catastrophe

noun

kə-ˈta-strə-(ˌ)fē How to pronounce catastrophe (audio)
Definition of catastrophenext
1
as in disaster
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction more than one natural catastrophe has threatened to destroy their farm over the years

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2
as in failure
something that has failed the movie was a catastrophe, nearly bankrupting the studio that produced it

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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 catastrophe Grocery stores run on notoriously thin profit margins (1 to 3 percent, by most estimates), and there are only so many freezer catastrophes the industry can take. — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 3 Nov. 2026 Though the case of Sunday’s catastrophe in Palm Beach County is still under investigation, bad weather may have played a role. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026 Since Benson and her co-authors met in Oviedo, weather catastrophes have multiplied, oceans have acidified and the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has soared. — Katie Worth, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2026 The film is directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and also stars Riz Ahmed, John Goodman and Sandra Hüller and follows Digger, whose company causes a potential global catastrophe. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catastrophe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catastrophe
  1. disaster
  2. failure
  3. tragedy
  4. apocalypse
  5. calamity
Noun
  • People mourn for the dead from the Cherry Mine disaster in 1909.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The developer sees potential uses in disaster assessment, water resource monitoring and surveys of coastlines and ports.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of disaster
Noun
  • Obstacles, wind, sensor errors, or other system failures can prevent it from completing the maneuver safely.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Coach Mikey Varas has spent the past week asking his players to confront their failure to reach the MLS Cup playoffs rather than simply count down the days until the offseason.
    — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • The incident horrified parents and neighbors, who wanted to know what the city could do to prevent another tragedy.
    — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Slafter doesn't want her son to be connected to this tragedy.
    — Olivia Young, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of tragedy
Noun
  • The structure of World War Z lends the material a dreadful credibility, with the prospect of a zombie apocalypse never seeming more plausible.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2026
  • There are some apocalypses, the song seems to suggest, where no redemptive beauty can be found.
    — Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of apocalypse
Noun
  • West and his college girlfriend, Andrea, drove three hours south after the calamity.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Morgenthau’s personal encounters with power had taught him that its unbridled pursuit led to calamity.
    — David Sacks, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of calamity

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cat (around)
catastrophe
catastrophes
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Cite this Entry

“Catastrophe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catastrophe. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on catastrophe

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catastrophe

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