natural disaster

noun

: a sudden and terrible event in nature (such as a hurricane, tornado, or flood) that usually results in serious damage and many deaths
The earthquake was one of the worst natural disasters of this century.

Examples of natural disaster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
On the bright side Sunday for the Miami Dolphins, at least no earthquake or other natural disaster struck Indianapolis to delay the game and elongate the misery. Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025 Temporary Protected Status is a designation that can be granted by the Homeland Security secretary to people in the United States if conditions in their homelands are deemed unsafe for return due to a natural disaster, political instability or other dangerous conditions. Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025 While the problems plaguing humanity — from political strife to poverty to natural disasters — might seem overwhelming, Dorantes said the property’s history illustrates how much the world can actually change. Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025 After tragedies or natural disasters, fake nonprofits or misleading crowdfunding campaigns pop up online, siphoning donations away from legitimate causes. Jason Phillips, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for natural disaster

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Natural disaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20disaster. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!