Synonyms
Examples of calamity in a Sentence
Twenty two years passed. Twenty-two years of excellent health and the boundless self-assurance that flows from being fit—twenty-two years spared the adversary that is illness and the calamity that waits in the wings.
—
Phillip Roth, Everyman, 2006
A resentment born of the suspicion that all along the media were up to their usual tricks, hyping a national calamity to the max in order to make us buy more copies and tune into TV specials …
—Christopher Buckley, Time, 29 Nov. 1999
In the wake of this year's unending calamities, there has been renewed discussion of the need for an international rapid deployment force that can kick down doors to help victims of disasters.
—Kathleen Hunt, New York Times Magazine, 28 July 1991
floods, earthquakes, and other calamities
He predicted calamity for the economy.
Phillip Roth, Everyman, 2006
A resentment born of the suspicion that all along the media were up to their usual tricks, hyping a national calamity to the max in order to make us buy more copies and tune into TV specials …
—Christopher Buckley, Time, 29 Nov. 1999
In the wake of this year's unending calamities, there has been renewed discussion of the need for an international rapid deployment force that can kick down doors to help victims of disasters.
—Kathleen Hunt, New York Times Magazine, 28 July 1991
floods, earthquakes, and other calamities
He predicted calamity for the economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
In May 2022, the ASU System board of trustees unanimously approved cuts to Henderson State that eliminated 88 faculty positions and 25 degree programs, including programs in English, mathematics, biology and chemistry, to address financial calamity at the university.
—Ryan Anderson, arkansasonline.com, 6 Sep. 2024
Venezuela is in the grip of prolonged, economic calamity.
—Scott Simon, NPR, 6 Sep. 2024
By that time, Taylor had experienced and endured, in a few whirlwind years, a lifetime of joy and heartbreak, exaltation and calamity.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 31 July 2024
Signs of budgetary calamity were late-breaking and few; in June a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office warned that VIPER’s budgetary allotment for fiscal year 2024 would run out in July.
—Michael Greshko, Scientific American, 24 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for calamity 
Ryan Anderson, arkansasonline.com, 6 Sep. 2024
Venezuela is in the grip of prolonged, economic calamity.
—Scott Simon, NPR, 6 Sep. 2024
By that time, Taylor had experienced and endured, in a few whirlwind years, a lifetime of joy and heartbreak, exaltation and calamity.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 31 July 2024
Signs of budgetary calamity were late-breaking and few; in June a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office warned that VIPER’s budgetary allotment for fiscal year 2024 would run out in July.
—Michael Greshko, Scientific American, 24 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for calamity
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'calamity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near calamity
Cite this Entry
“Calamity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calamity. Accessed 16 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calamity
noun
ca·lam·i·ty
kə-ˈlam-ət-ē 
plural calamities
1
: deep distress or misery
2
: an event that causes great harm
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