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 Invaders may have finished off some of the great ancient civilizations, but only after they had been weakened by drought, famine, disease, flooding and internal divisions that catastrophe often sparks. — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 Anthropic has been loudly warning that AI might one day lead to catastrophe. — Mario Aguilar, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026 The plan aims to address contamination that the phosphate industry left behind — and prevent it from ever causing another catastrophe. — Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2026 Our task is to build the structures, the accountability mechanisms and the institutional discipline that ensure trust failures become governance data rather than governance catastrophes. — Albana Vrioni, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catastrophe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catastrophe
  1. disaster
  2. failure
  3. tragedy
  4. apocalypse
  5. calamity
Noun
  • Although major questions remained unanswered on Thursday about the attacker and his motive, the story of ordinary passengers saving the FlyDubai flight from disaster has quickly become the stuff of legend.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Second were unarmed passengers who subdued the armed attacker before one pulled back on the yoke to level the aircraft, drawing on knowledge from an air-disaster documentary.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of disaster
Noun
  • Let Congress know how dire the situation is (or will be, if there’s a failure to act).
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The stunning failure in Tennessee's execution chamber on Wednesday has left both sides of the death penalty debate demanding answers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • School Girls isn’t a tragedy, but its antiheroine, and the world that shaped her, just might break your heart.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The attorneys for an Annunciation Catholic School shooting victim's family say YouTube could have prevented the tragedy, and a civil lawsuit is being considered.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of tragedy
Noun
  • The film is a satire about an impending climate change apocalypse that’s triggered by the drilling operations of oil tycoon Digger Rockwell, played by Cruise, who looks nearly unrecognizable clad in prosthetics and graying hair.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In it, Cruise disappears behind makeup and prosthetics into the role of Texas oilman Digger Rockwell, whose company sparks an ecological disaster that could end in nuclear apocalypse.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of apocalypse
Noun
  • The toxic loans were also packaged and peddled around the world to banks everywhere, resulting in a calamity.
    — Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
  • During each and every move, some sort of financial calamity resulted.
    — Sean Conlon, CNBC, 24 Sep. 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 5 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on catastrophe

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about catastrophe

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