Synonyms of catastrophe

catastrophe

noun

kə-ˈta-strə-(ˌ)fē 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disaster
• tragedy
• apocalypse
• calamity
• collapse
• accident
• crash
• debacle
• cataclysm
• fatality
• casualty
• upheaval
• meltdown
• Armageddon
• misfortune
• doomsday
• convulsion
• bloodbath
• blow
• mishap
• paroxysm
• misadventure
• end-time
• mischance
• double whammy
• blast
• one-two

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• windfall
• manna
• godsend

2

as in failure

something that has failed

the movie was a catastrophe, nearly bankrupting the studio that produced it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disaster
• failure
• disappointment
• fiasco
• loser
• bust
• bomb
• shipwreck
• debacle
• washout
• flop
• mess
• miss
• frost
• lemon
• dud
• fizzle
• turkey
• clunker
• bummer
• clinker
• has-been
• dog
• shambles
• botch
• also-ran
• hash
• near miss
• nonevent
• muddle
• nonstarter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• success
• hit
• winner
• blockbuster
• phenomenon
• smash
• corker
• crackerjack
• dandy
• jim-dandy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of catastrophe

Shlosberg, who described the war during his trial as a catastrophe for Russia, maintained his innocence and said the case against him was political. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026

This began even before the Nakba (النكبة), or catastrophe, of 1948. — Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026

Local residents argue that the road construction itself is an environmental catastrophe. — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026

As the summer of 2001 wears on through the lens of Kopple’s camera, our knowledge of the coming catastrophe casts a shadow over the proceedings. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026

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