1
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
a calamitous decision to sell their products online exclusively ruined the business
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2
as in devastating
causing or tending to cause destruction
a calamitous flood that destroyed the town's central business district
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of calamitous
The calamitous incident unfolded just after midnight at 12:34 A.M. on Tuesday (April 8), during a performance by beloved Dominican merengue singer Rubby Pérez.
—
Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 9 Apr. 2025
If not for a calamitous early September night from Boise State football’s special teams unit, the Broncos very well would have ended the 2024 regular season undefeated.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2025
On the docket for the coming evening are at least five separate occasions with the potential to be calamitous.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025
But Biden is leaving on the heels of a calamitous final year in office that saw his party suffer sweeping defeats at the ballot box.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calamitous
Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 9 Apr. 2025
If not for a calamitous early September night from Boise State football’s special teams unit, the Broncos very well would have ended the 2024 regular season undefeated.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2025
On the docket for the coming evening are at least five separate occasions with the potential to be calamitous.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025
But Biden is leaving on the heels of a calamitous final year in office that saw his party suffer sweeping defeats at the ballot box.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for calamitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calamitous
Adjective
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That quickly became disastrous for both sides as officials had a very public spat with one another using harsh rhetoric in front of a slew of journalists invited to cover what was initially intended to be brief opening remarks.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
9 May 2025
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The second leg against AZ after a disastrous 1-0 defeat in Holland.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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The impact of this could really be devastating, particularly in rural communities.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 May 2025
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Another factor is that federal cannabis reform has stalled in the U.S., which for Tilray and other Canadian operators has been devastating.—
Will Yakowicz,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Adjective
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In rare cases, salmonella can result in more serious illness and can be fatal in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
4 May 2025
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Just two milligrams — the size of a few grains of sand — can be fatal.—
Isobel Yeung,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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After a half-decade of unfortunate injuries and the still-strange collapse in the bubble, Leonard at last looks like his two-time Finals MVP self.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
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Responding to the precariousness of our moment, museums have reified the problem with an unfortunate watchword: relevance.—
Eric Crosby,
Artforum,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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The indictment further alleges that, during this same period, Hamad conspired with co-defendant Collins to manufacture and possess destructive devices.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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The four-part Investigation Discovery series The Fall of Diddy looks into the making and unmaking of the producer-performer-entrepreneur, revealing a history of alleged abusive and destructive behavior by Combs that dates to the late 1980s.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Calamitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calamitous. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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