calamitous

adjective

kə-ˈla-mə-təs How to pronounce calamitous (audio)
Definition of calamitousnext
1
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune a calamitous decision to sell their products online exclusively ruined the business

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devastating
causing or tending to cause destruction a calamitous flood that destroyed the town's central business district

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of calamitous For both satellites and race cars, tiny miscalculations become calamitous. — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 14 July 2026 Each week, Mantooth’s Gage, partner Roy De Soto (Kevin Tighe) and their firefighter colleagues would answer calls both routine and calamitous. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 10 July 2026 For smaller private colleges that are tuition dependent and lack substantial and accessible endowments, even a modest reduction in enrollment could prove calamitous. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026 Brown was married at the church altar in the spring of ‘93, months before that calamitous summer. — Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for calamitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calamitous
  1. disastrous
  2. devastating
  3. fatal
  4. destructive
  5. unfortunate
  6. catastrophic
Adjective
  • The disastrous late-August flash flooding near Phantom Ranch struck below the burn scar left by that blaze, the National Weather Service said.
    — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The bill for the disastrous Leonard era now includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — the reigning, two-time MVP — 10 first-round picks and two additional pick swaps.
    — Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of disastrous
Adjective
  • Released in 2025, the first part of Julia Loktev’s monumental documentary project My Undesirable Friends, subtitled Last Air in Moscow, gave us a sprawling, breathless look at a few devastating months in the lives of Russian journalists.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Levine Cava’s budget called them low-ridership bus routes, but transit advocates said service loss would be devastating for riders who use them.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of devastating
Adjective
  • Their defensive line flipped from fatal flaw to deep, disruptive chaos agent.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Authorities have identified the victim and suspect in a recent fatal Rosemont shooting that led to a three-hour standoff with Sheriff’s Deputies.
    — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of fatal
Adjective
  • Large, destructive waves and life-threatening rip currents are forecast across many Hawaiian shorelines during the next several days.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
  • America’s sense of security was smashed with apocalyptic fury Tuesday when the most destructive and meticulously planned terror attack in history shattered two of the country’s most potent symbols.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of destructive
Adjective
  • That is the unfortunate part of a tenure full of expansion, media-rights billions and two transformational collective bargaining agreements.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Moore and his allies are presenting gerrymandering as an unfortunate response to an acute political crisis, but trying to gerrymander Maryland in favor of Democrats is far from a new effort.
    — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • The dependency is often invisible in normal times but could be catastrophic in a crisis.
    — Sajal Singh, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Not just any bill, but this year’s biggest in the state Legislature, dealing with catastrophic wildfires, arguably the state’s most perilous problem.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of catastrophic

Browse Nearby Words

calamities
calamitous
calamity
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Cite this Entry

“Calamitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calamitous. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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