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disaster

disaster

1.0
A sudden event that causes great damage, loss, or failure
  • noun
  • /dɪˈzæstər/
translation icon : desastre
  • I mean, so yeah, COVID was an unmitigated disaster for everyone.
  • a natural disaster
  • disaster management
  • disaster recovery

So the speech was a disaster, a disaster.

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Examples

  • After the fire engulfed the building, the damage was described as a total disaster.

  • It's one of the worst natural disasters in human history.

  • However, we know little about how older residents respond when a natural disaster destroys their community.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Countless other communities have been destroyed by natural disasters, but they have recovered much more quickly.

    Academic text (2011)
  • In 2005, Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent U.S. history.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The earthquake was a major disaster that left the city in ruins.

  • The shipwreck off the coast was a tragic disaster for all on board.

Synonyms

tragedy
vsdisaster
915 3.0

A very sad event that causes much suffering and loss

is broader, also covering major physical damage and material loss
failure
vsdisaster
  • Specialized
396 3.3

Loss of the ability to work, especially of an organ or machine

is about sudden events causing wide destruction or large-scale loss
catastrophe
vsdisaster
176 7.0

A sudden terrible event that causes great damage and suffering

is broader, covering large collapses and damaging events
meltdown
vsdisaster
95 5.8

A sudden total failure that causes serious damage to a system

is broader, covering sudden events that cause damage or loss
devastation
vsdisaster
90 4.8

Great destruction that leaves places badly damaged, for example after a war or storm

refers to the event causing that destruction rather than the result
fiasco
vsdisaster
76 6.2

A complete embarrassing failure that happens suddenly and causes big problems

is more neutral, covering severe harm or destruction without shame
debacle
vsdisaster
75 8.5

A sudden complete failure that causes public embarrassment or big loss

is about sudden events causing damage or destruction as well as breakdowns
calamity
vsdisaster
49 6.7

A terrible event that causes much harm and suffering

is the general label for sudden severe harm or extensive collapse
cataclysm
vsdisaster
19 9.2

A sudden violent event that causes great destruction or change

is broader, applying to sudden harm without implying societal scale
one hell of a mess
vsdisaster
  • NSFW
2 8.4

A very large, messy situation that is hard to fix

is a more formal label for sudden very damaging events
1 3.7

A situation that is a total failure causing big problems

is the general term used without extra emphasis

Antonyms

1.0

Getting what you want after working hard

269 1.4

A good thing or situation that brings happiness

Idioms

A situation very likely to cause serious trouble

Compounds

Help people and communities get after a disaster, such as food, shelter and medical care

13 3.4

An area badly damaged by a storm or large accident that gets official help

A situation that is a total failure causing big problems

A very bad cooking mistake that makes food not good to eat

How Severe

apocalypse
  • Literature
134 8.6
catastrophe
176 7.0
disaster
1.0
accident
1.0
mishap
62 3.4
incident
2.7

Surface Forms

disaster singular
disasters plural

Etymology

Disaster comes from old parts dis- 'bad' and astrum 'star', because people once thought a bad star brought bad luck; a 'disaster' was an event caused by unlucky stars, so today the word means a sudden, very bad event.