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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Recent Examples of calamitous
Ben Watson then flicked home the stoppage-time winner from a corner — a calamitous end to a disappointing season for City and undoubtedly their gloomiest modern Wembley day to date.
—
Thom Harris, New York Times, 17 May 2025
There might have still been time, after Biden’s calamitous June debate performance, to put together a mini-primary, or at least a process of democratic consultation, to choose a replacement.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 17 May 2025
This calamitous period of his rule is glossed over in the hagiographical accounts of his life.
—Simon Montlake, Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2025
As chronicled in Episode 8, a calculated massacre of hundreds of locals has taken place, to distract from — and ultimately justify — the Empire’s aggressive and eventually calamitous extraction of valuable calcite from Ghorman.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for calamitous
Thom Harris, New York Times, 17 May 2025
There might have still been time, after Biden’s calamitous June debate performance, to put together a mini-primary, or at least a process of democratic consultation, to choose a replacement.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 17 May 2025
This calamitous period of his rule is glossed over in the hagiographical accounts of his life.
—Simon Montlake, Christian Science Monitor, 16 May 2025
As chronicled in Episode 8, a calculated massacre of hundreds of locals has taken place, to distract from — and ultimately justify — the Empire’s aggressive and eventually calamitous extraction of valuable calcite from Ghorman.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for calamitous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calamitous
Adjective
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Though Rivera was strong on balance beam and floor, posting the highest mark on beam and the third-best on floor, a disastrous bar routine took the Olympian out of the gold medal race.—
Caroline Price,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
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After a disastrous trip to Mexico where Irina appeared repulsed by everything Zack did, the couple split and Zack went crawling back to Bliss.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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The most devastating feedback came from a founder Landau idolized.—
Megan Bruneau,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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Day laborers have been crucial to rebuilding efforts after Los Angeles County’s devastating January firestorms.—
Kaitlyn Huamani,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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Selling bitcoin volatility into a bull market could prove fatal.—
Alexander S. Blume,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Here's what to know about the rare, but often fatal, disease.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Shakira does appear to be the beneficiary of an unintended consequence stemming from her unfortunate moves.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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The stern instructor displays a remarkable amount of patience as the student bashes the unfortunate victim against every solid surface in sight — even alien beings capable of traversing the cosmos can have bad days at the office.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Decades later, Iraqis still did not have 24-hour electricity due to that brief but intensely destructive air campaign.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
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When a rocket releases a satellite in this type of high-energy orbit, the upper stage has usually burned almost all of its propellant, leaving little fuel to steer itself back into Earth's atmosphere for a destructive reentry.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Calamitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calamitous. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
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