catastrophe

noun

kə-ˈta-strə-(ˌ)fē How to pronounce catastrophe (audio)
Definition of catastrophenext
1
as in disaster
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in failure
something that has failed the movie was a catastrophe, nearly bankrupting the studio that produced it

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for catastrophe
  1. disaster
  2. failure
  3. apocalypse
  4. tragedy
  5. calamity
Noun
  • If Calais Campbell hadn’t signed with the Dolphins at the last minute Miami’s defense would be a disaster.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Jan. 2025
  • Choi took office two days before a Jeju Air plane crashed in the southwest city of Muan, killing 179 of the 181 people on board in the world’s deadliest aviation disaster of 2024. Stella Kim, Steve Patterson, Stephanie Fuerte and Beomsu Jo reported from Seoul and Jennifer Jett from Hong Kong.
    Stella Kim, NBC News, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of disaster
Noun
  • Several reports have linked ashwagandha to inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), liver failure, and the need for liver transplantation.92 Taking ashwagandha with other hepatotoxic medications may increase your risk for liver damage.
    Kirstyn Hill, PharmD, MPH, Health, 1 Jan. 2025
  • This was the 11th launch from the Space Coast in 2023 and 300th successful Falcon 9 launch since its debut in 2010, having only had one mid-launch failure in 2015.
    Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2025
Definition of failure
Noun
  • The series promises to blend action, romance and comedy elements within its zombie apocalypse framework.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Didn’t Die / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Meera Menon, Screenwriter and Producer: Paul Gleason, Producers: Erica Fishman, Joe Camerota, Luke Patton) –– A podcast host desperately clings to an ever-shrinking audience in the zombie apocalypse.
    Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2024
Definition of apocalypse
Noun
  • Magdeburg marked the tragedy Saturday with the tolling church bells at 7:04 p.m., the exact time of the attack in the city of roughly 240,000 people.
    Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2024
  • Remus said the family is leaning into God to cope with the tragedy — along with being OK with laughter when remembering happy or funny moments.
    Erik S. Hanley, Journal Sentinel, 21 Dec. 2024
Definition of tragedy
Noun
  • Before now, United’s calamities in the last decade or so have been incubated to a tier most other clubs can only dream of: finishing bottom of a Champions League group; coming eighth in the Premier League but winning the FA Cup; losing a Europa League final 11-10 on penalties.
    Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
  • After years of unrelenting calamity, Americans were ready for something new and different.
    Russell L. Riley / Made by History, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024
Definition of calamity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Thesaurus Entries Near catastrophe

cat (around)

catastrophe

catastrophes

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Cite this Entry

“Catastrophe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catastrophe. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on catastrophe

Nglish: Translation of catastrophe for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of catastrophe for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catastrophe

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