as in disaster
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction
this latest breakdown of the car is inconvenient, but not a calamity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 calamity
Farmers markets — that humble and charming throwback to a bygone era — are also struggling with higher fuel prices, after weathering the economic calamities of the pandemic and other misfortunes.
—
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
Democrats have worried that their crowded field could result in two Republicans advancing, which would be a historic calamity for the party.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
Prior administration has proactively refunded taxpayers in past misfortune and calamity events, and/or major economic downturns.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 4 May 2026
And after a shaky start that included all sorts of calamity and broken glass over at first base, Rafael Devers has looked much, much better in recent weeks after returning to the field.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for calamity
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
Democrats have worried that their crowded field could result in two Republicans advancing, which would be a historic calamity for the party.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
Prior administration has proactively refunded taxpayers in past misfortune and calamity events, and/or major economic downturns.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 4 May 2026
And after a shaky start that included all sorts of calamity and broken glass over at first base, Rafael Devers has looked much, much better in recent weeks after returning to the field.
—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for calamity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calamity
Noun
-
Boeing has reached confidential pre-trial settlements in most of the dozens of wrongful death lawsuits filed in connection with the Ethiopian Airlines disaster and a similar 737 Max crash five months earlier off the coast of Indonesia that together killed 346 people.—
Rio Yamat,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
-
But the 48-year-old former San Francisco County supervisor’s solution — a single-payer-style public disaster insurance program — is poorly defined and presents an enormous risk for a state struggling with chronic deficits.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
For much the same reason, developers, architects and builders are starting to stress proactively designing for climate catastrophe.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Local elections in England are usually low-stakes affairs, but this year’s results proved to be a catastrophe for the Labour Party.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Those intentions prove to be relatively short-lived, as personal tragedy and political machinations eventually drove both men down their familiar old paths.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
-
One year after a fire at a religious hospice claimed the lives of 12 children, Mariel and Tino – a pair of documentary filmmakers – investigate the case of Gisela, the young volunteer who caused the tragedy and whom everyone believes to be dead.—
Roberto Prieto,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
That presentiment lies behind the many present expressions of apocalypse.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
This helped to set off the SaaS apocalypse.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Calamity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calamity. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
