1
as in disasters
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in failures
something that has failed
the movie was a catastrophe, nearly bankrupting the studio that produced it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of catastrophes
Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.
—
The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
While Scarry’s books present such catastrophes with bright colors and good humor, Gomez undermines this cheer by superimposing on the mural a nearly all-black painting of a desolate tent encampment in front of a home destroyed by the Eaton fire.
—Sharon Mizota, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
Any negotiation that is seen as overly rewarding aggression will set in motion catastrophes all over the world.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Any negotiation that is seen as overly rewarding aggression will set in motion catastrophes all over the world.
—Sophie Brams, The Hill, 3 Feb. 2026
However, within resources available, countries can build disaster and health response capabilities to mitigate physical and biological catastrophes.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
An observer of catastrophes, come what may.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Across their nearly 100-year football rivalry, USC and Notre Dame have only paused their annual matchup for global catastrophes like World War II and the Covid-19 pandemic.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2026
While Scarry’s books present such catastrophes with bright colors and good humor, Gomez undermines this cheer by superimposing on the mural a nearly all-black painting of a desolate tent encampment in front of a home destroyed by the Eaton fire.
—Sharon Mizota, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
Any negotiation that is seen as overly rewarding aggression will set in motion catastrophes all over the world.
—Alex Nitzberg, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Any negotiation that is seen as overly rewarding aggression will set in motion catastrophes all over the world.
—Sophie Brams, The Hill, 3 Feb. 2026
However, within resources available, countries can build disaster and health response capabilities to mitigate physical and biological catastrophes.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026
An observer of catastrophes, come what may.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Across their nearly 100-year football rivalry, USC and Notre Dame have only paused their annual matchup for global catastrophes like World War II and the Covid-19 pandemic.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catastrophes
Noun
-
In 2024, the country experienced 27 separate billion-dollar disasters, totaling roughly $183 billion, up from nearly $93 billion the year before.—
Yoca Arditi-Rocha,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
-
This designation places the mission on the same official level of seriousness as the fatal Challenger (1986) and Columbia (2023) shuttle disasters.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Increasingly, the aging building has been experiencing system failures that include the boilers and chillers, electrical infrastructure, plumbing and roof leaks, the City Council was told.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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These failures help contribute to the lack of confidence Americans in general have in Democrats’ ability to run things — their governmental competence.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Based on Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth, the surrealist musical follows one nuclear family across thousands of years and three apocalypses.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
10 Dec. 2025
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And a lot of the pseudepigrapha, like the fake gospels and fake apocalypses, fill in gaps in the record that can serve latter-day, post-biblical purposes.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As of Monday evening, there have been no tragedies reported in relation to the storm, Hooley said.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The lawsuit Paxton brought against the company sought compensation for economic losses, civil penalties and a court order compelling the company to take corrective measures to prevent future tragedies.—
Lana Ferguson,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
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The calamities of war shuttered many of the earliest kissa, as entire collections of jazz records were lost.—
Nneka M. Okona,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catastrophes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catastrophes. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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