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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of calamity
All the sweeping expansiveness snaps shut with a sudden health crisis for Kristen, its onset signaled with masterful concision in a middle-of-the-night calamity that leaves her helpless.
—
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Volatiles Celestial geometry and past calamity lie behind this lunar south pole target.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
The winter had been a season of calamities, with one emergency or challenge after another.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for calamity
Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Volatiles Celestial geometry and past calamity lie behind this lunar south pole target.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
The winter had been a season of calamities, with one emergency or challenge after another.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for calamity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calamity
Noun
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The offense has been a disaster, the pitching staff has sustained some key injuries and the club has spent the first two months struggling to keep its head above water.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
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The Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters maps and tracks every chemical disaster reported by the media on its website.—
Jason Henry,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Noun
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Liaquat Ahamed has spent his career studying the moments when the world’s financial system breaks down — the bad bets, the collective delusions, and the geopolitical accidents that tip economies into catastrophe.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
2 June 2026
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Richards had begun privately doubting the timeline—traveling to Paris and London for modeling work, looking around, and noticing an absence of catastrophe.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
1 June 2026
Noun
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The sheriff says that 15 to 20 community members stepped up to help in the aftermath of this tragedy.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
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Convoluted race shaped by tragedy As the California Senate president last fall, McGuire helped Democrats successfully engineer and secure passage of Proposition 50.—
Reeti Malhotra,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
Noun
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Now, her portrayal of Zosia, the hive mind emissary sent to cajole Rhea Seehorn’s Carol into joining the world’s collective consciousness in Vince Gilligan’s Apple TV sci-fi tale of a happiness apocalypse, has stirred up Emmy buzz.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
31 May 2026
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Check out this 1997 live TV version of Paranoid Android, which veers from lullaby to apocalypse within the space of a few minutes.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Calamity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calamity. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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