disastrous

adjective

di·​sas·​trous di-ˈza-strəs 

also -ˈsa-

1

: attended by or causing suffering or disaster : calamitous

a disastrous flood

2

: terrible, horrendous

a disastrous score

disastrously adverb

Synonyms of disastrous

• fatal
• unfortunate
• catastrophic

Examples of disastrous in a Sentence

Half the city was destroyed by a disastrous fire.

The bad weather could have a disastrous effect on the area's tourism industry.

His failure to back up the computer files had disastrous consequences.

The strike was economically disastrous.

Recent Examples on the Web

Labour has teetered on the edge of one for weeks after those disastrous local election results, and only Burnham’s inability to run before now seems to have delayed one. — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 20 June 2026

On Monday night, David Remnick interviewed Hillary Rodham Clinton for a live taping of The New Yorker Radio Hour, where the former First Lady spoke plainly about Joe Biden and the disastrous 2024 election. — Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 18 June 2026

Following a disastrous 3-14 campaign, the Jets reshaped their organization from the coaching staff to the roster. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 18 June 2026

Struggling in the polls and facing political rebellion after disastrous local elections, time appears to be running out for Keir Starmer’s tenure as British prime minister. — Katie Marie Davies, Christian Science Monitor, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1