1
as in disasters
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction
more than one natural catastrophe has threatened to destroy their farm over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in failures
something that has failed
the movie was a catastrophe, nearly bankrupting the studio that produced it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catastrophes
In 1941, Japan’s Pearl Harbor surprise attack triggered a nearly 2-year chain of American military catastrophes.
—
Gil Troy, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
But the effects on Qatar’s economy and global energy markets were profound, offering a glimpse of the catastrophes that might follow a broader Iranian military campaign against energy facilities across the Persian Gulf.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
With Harry, a personal spiral is only one case away, and as the series begins, there are several percolating catastrophes that might be ready to dovetail in self-destruction.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 2026
Not everyone can be Francis Ford Coppola, funding his own feverish catastrophes by selling off one of his vineyards.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.
—The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
While Scarry’s books present such catastrophes with bright colors and good humor, Gomez undermines this cheer by superimposing on the mural a nearly all-black painting of a desolate tent encampment in front of a home destroyed by the Eaton fire.
—Sharon Mizota, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Any negotiation that is seen as overly rewarding aggression will set in motion catastrophes all over the world.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Any negotiation that is seen as overly rewarding aggression will set in motion catastrophes all over the world.
—Sophie Brams, The Hill, 3 Feb. 2026
Gil Troy, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
But the effects on Qatar’s economy and global energy markets were profound, offering a glimpse of the catastrophes that might follow a broader Iranian military campaign against energy facilities across the Persian Gulf.
—Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
With Harry, a personal spiral is only one case away, and as the series begins, there are several percolating catastrophes that might be ready to dovetail in self-destruction.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 2026
Not everyone can be Francis Ford Coppola, funding his own feverish catastrophes by selling off one of his vineyards.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.
—The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
While Scarry’s books present such catastrophes with bright colors and good humor, Gomez undermines this cheer by superimposing on the mural a nearly all-black painting of a desolate tent encampment in front of a home destroyed by the Eaton fire.
—Sharon Mizota, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Any negotiation that is seen as overly rewarding aggression will set in motion catastrophes all over the world.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Any negotiation that is seen as overly rewarding aggression will set in motion catastrophes all over the world.
—Sophie Brams, The Hill, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catastrophes
Noun
-
The country observed three days of national mourning for one of the worst air disasters recorded in recent memory.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The importance of speed Among the many lessons drawn from these disasters was that speed is the coin of the realm.—
Sheena Samu,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When a series of tragic failures at New Era Community Health Center left scores of the county’s weakest, poorest and most erratic residents in danger, Florida health inspectors took the unusual step of threatening to shut down the home.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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In 2023, the number dropped significantly, even as supervision failures within jails persisted, down to 63.—
Ryan Oehrli
April 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Based on Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth, the surrealist musical follows one nuclear family across thousands of years and three apocalypses.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
10 Dec. 2025
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And a lot of the pseudepigrapha, like the fake gospels and fake apocalypses, fill in gaps in the record that can serve latter-day, post-biblical purposes.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Conrad said tragedies like the one that took Altman’s life remind him and other firefighters of the job’s danger.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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Caroline, as an ambassador of her family’s dynasty, has to offer condolences while keeping a stiff upper lip, only able to work through the latest of many tragedies in her life internally.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Colorado went 43-119, a record that belongs in a museum exhibit beside other modern-era calamities, behind glass.—
Jenny Catlin,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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There were intervening calamities that Walz, Ellison and Omar had nothing to do with, COVID-19 and the death of George Floyd.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catastrophes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catastrophes. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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