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catastrophe

catastrophe

176 7.0
A sudden terrible event that causes great damage and suffering
  • noun
  • /kəˈtæstrəfi/
translation icon : catástrofe
  • The greatest risk of global catastrophe doesn't look like this.
  • a natural catastrophe
  • prevent a catastrophe
  • an environmental catastrophe

The greatest risk of global catastrophe doesn't look like this.

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Examples

  • The accidental release of the chemical was a major catastrophe for the local environment, resulting in widespread destruction of wildlife.

  • Listen, I just want to let you know we have a minor catastrophe in the making here.

  • So this looks like a complete catastrophe at this point.

  • It's just that this world financial catastrophe came and it was much more serious.

  • Its loss was a catastrophe, but one question still remains.

  • Is that a natural catastrophe or act of God or something?

  • Was it possible that by some catastrophe his seat in Congress could be lost?

    Fiction book (1990)
  • A damage assessment after a natural catastrophe is an immediate and complex undertaking.

    Academic text (1991)
  • The catastrophe claimed the lives of 2,753 victims.

  • Germany and Japan have paid dearly for the catastrophe they have unleashed.

Synonyms

disaster
vscatastrophe
1.0

A sudden event that causes great damage, loss, or failure

is similar but implies a more terrible, destructive event
tragedy
vscatastrophe
915 3.0

A very sad event that causes much suffering and loss

focuses more on physical destruction and widespread terrible damage
apocalypse
vscatastrophe
  • Literature
134 8.6

A great disaster that destroys the world, often caused by a divine power

is like that but need not be religious or world-ending
meltdown
vscatastrophe
95 5.8

A sudden total failure that causes serious damage to a system

is alike but stresses terrible damage and wide human harm
debacle
vscatastrophe
75 8.5

A sudden complete failure that causes public embarrassment or big loss

stresses physical damage and human suffering more than mere failure
end of the world
vscatastrophe
  • Informal
60 3.7

A situation that seems like a disaster but is often not as bad

is the literal sudden terrible event, not just extreme feeling
calamity
vscatastrophe
49 6.7

A terrible event that causes much harm and suffering

is the harsher term that stresses terrible scale and destruction
superstorm
vscatastrophe
29 5.5

A very large, powerful storm that causes widespread damage or a very serious situation with many problems

covers any sudden terrible event, not only weather disasters
cataclysm
vscatastrophe
19 9.2

A sudden violent event that causes great destruction or change

is like this but focuses more on terrible human suffering
all hell broke loose
vscatastrophe
  • Informal
16 8.1

A sudden time of chaos and confusion that spreads quickly

involves actual terrible damage and widespread suffering rather than chaos alone
whammy
vscatastrophe
  • Slang
8 8.8

A serious event that causes great trouble or loss

is broader and more catastrophic in scale and human harm
eruption
vscatastrophe
4 4.3

A sudden violent outburst of feeling or action

is similar but emphasizes extreme destruction and human suffering
Armageddon
vscatastrophe
1 9.4

A very large battle or event that causes great damage to many people and places

is similar in scale but more general, not always apocalyptic
1 3.7

A situation that is a total failure causing big problems

is similar but often implies even more sudden terrible consequences
doomsday event
vscatastrophe
8.6

An event that kills most people or destroys life on Earth

is comparable but can mean a terrible event without global end

Antonyms

1.0

Getting what you want after working hard

2.8

Something that helps a person do better than others

269 1.4

A good thing or situation that brings happiness

How Severe

apocalypse
  • Literature
134 8.6
cataclysm
19 9.2
catastrophe
176 7.0
disaster
1.0
crisis
3.1
setback
148 3.6
problem
1.2

Surface Forms

catastrophe singular
catastrophes plural

Etymology

Catastrophe comes from Greek parts kata- ('down') and strophe ('turning'). So a catastrophe is like a sudden 'turning over' that upsets everything and causes great damage.