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

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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 His grief was crushing, paralyzing, calamitous. — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026 There was an irony, then, that Romo was responsible for their winning goal — profiting from a calamitous defensive mix-up between South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu and defender Lee Gi-hyuk in the 50th minute. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 19 June 2026 Scotland fought hard, and might have snatched a point after scoring a penalty kick to tie the game 1–1, but, in the seventy-fourth minute, Cafu attacked, causing enough panic in the Scotland box to force a calamitous own goal. — Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 16 June 2026 When Odysseus’s men eat Helios’s cattle, the sun god appeals to Zeus, who sends such a calamitous storm that Odysseus alone survives. — Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 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
  • There’s no excuse for the disastrous outcome of this very expensive renovation.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026
  • Experts suggest that this significant addition to the technological ecosystem in orbit could have disastrous consequences for life on Earth.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of disastrous
Adjective
  • Emergency services in Andalusia said the death toll rose overnight amid the devastating blaze.
    — Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • Stay after the final whistle, because this is one of the few places where a win—or a devastating loss—can still end in a conga line.
    — Amber Love Bond, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of devastating
Adjective
  • Like many Maine officials, Biddeford mayor Liam LaFountain has called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero at the hands of a federal agent.
    — Caroll Alvarado, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • In the third season, Juliette has lost her memories in the process of surviving a near-fatal experience being locked in an incinerator.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 July 2026
Definition of fatal
Adjective
  • Sinlaku’s slow movement (in contrast to Bavi) worsened impacts by keeping destructive winds and torrential rain over the islands for hours, rather than moving through quickly.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • The fire burned simultaneously with the similarly destructive Eaton Fire in Altadena and other communities in the foothills of the nearby San Gabriel Mountains.
    — Daily News, Daily News, 4 July 2026
Definition of destructive
Adjective
  • For many women, painful periods are treated as an unfortunate but normal part of life.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Instead, the meddling radiated corruption over due process of an unfortunate but longstanding rule that has remedies seldom invoked in the middle of the World Cup.
    — Vahe Gregorian July 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • Major personal injury firms have invested heavily in the infrastructure needed to handle large commercial vehicle and catastrophic injury cases, including in-house accident reconstruction, medical expert networks and trial presentation technology.
    — Karen Koehler, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
  • Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket—also owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos—is out of service after a catastrophic explosion on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral in late May.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 7 July 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 15 Jul. 2026.

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