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
One year and three days later, Harrison’s co-interim replacements, Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi, performed a commendable containment of the NBA’s Exxon Valdez calamity.
—
Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
Starting in the 2026-27 school year, Oklahoma public schools will be limited to two days, or 12 hours, of virtual learning for calamity closures, including severe weather, per Senate Bill 758 authored by Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, and Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 3 Feb. 2026
What Trump is most certainly reviewing is the viability of Noem as a Cabinet secretary, who has rapidly become a scapegoat for the predictable calamities of the high-visibility deployment of border guards as SWAT troops in urban centers.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 27 Jan. 2026
Precious metals are widely viewed as a hedge against geopolitical unrest because the millennia-old stores of value are perceived as investments that could outlive calamity.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for calamity
Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
Starting in the 2026-27 school year, Oklahoma public schools will be limited to two days, or 12 hours, of virtual learning for calamity closures, including severe weather, per Senate Bill 758 authored by Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, and Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 3 Feb. 2026
What Trump is most certainly reviewing is the viability of Noem as a Cabinet secretary, who has rapidly become a scapegoat for the predictable calamities of the high-visibility deployment of border guards as SWAT troops in urban centers.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 27 Jan. 2026
Precious metals are widely viewed as a hedge against geopolitical unrest because the millennia-old stores of value are perceived as investments that could outlive calamity.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for calamity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calamity
Noun
-
While the Supreme Court’s majority opinion did not explicitly outline a repayment protocol, dissenting Justice Brett Kavanaugh highlighted the looming administrative disaster.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The latter possibility, however, could give rise to enough disaster and famine to fully destabilize human civilization.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Johnny’s life was cut short in a tragedy that still feels impossible to process — struck and killed by a car while riding his bicycle.—
Peter Folan,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Victim families are deeply disappointed and warn that without action, another tragedy is inevitable.—
Josh Funk,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Yang went so far as to urge anyone in mid-career management, particularly those who own homes in the affluent burbs of Silicon Valley or Westchester County, New York to put there house up for sale now, to avoid the mad scramble once the labor apocalypse hits.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Shawn, famous for his moral compass, diagnoses the world on a lucky/unlucky axis, and imagines the upside of apocalypse.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Calamity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calamity. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
