Synonyms of catastrophes

catastrophes

noun

plural of catastrophe

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

• disasters
• apocalypses
• tragedies
• calamities
• accidents
• collapses
• debacles
• cataclysms
• crashes
• fatalities
• upheavals
• casualties
• bloodbaths
• convulsions
• misfortunes
• meltdowns
• end-times
• mishaps
• misadventures
• doomsdays
• Armageddons
• blows
• paroxysms
• mischances
• double whammies
• blasts
• one-twos

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• windfalls
• godsends
• mannas

2

as in failures

something that has failed

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disasters
• failures
• disappointments
• bombs
• shipwrecks
• losers
• busts
• fiascoes
• frosts
• washouts
• flops
• debacles
• lemons
• misses
• messes
• duds
• clinkers
• clunkers
• turkeys
• bummers
• dogs
• fizzles
• shambles
• hashes
• near misses
• has-beens
• botches
• also-rans
• nonevents
• muddles
• nonstarters

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• successes
• winners
• hits
• blockbusters
• phenomena
• smashes
• corkers
• dandies
• crackerjacks
• jim-dandies

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of catastrophes

Syria became one of the great human catastrophes of our time. — Ayman M. Mohyeldin, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026

Returns, however, can be negative in a year when there is a much higher than average incidence of catastrophes and insurance claims have to be paid out. — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

That didn’t stop catastrophes like the 2018 fire in the Sierra foothills that destroyed the town of Paradise and killed 85. — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026

Experts warn that catastrophes like this are likely to happen again because rising temperatures in the Himalayas, which are warming faster than the global average, destabilize the region's 60,000 glaciers and trigger more avalanches. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026

The road to Sylvan Esso’s radiant new album began with a cascade of delays and catastrophes. — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 25 Aug. 2026

The contrast is a reminder of the differences between the neighboring nations — their political systems, resources and the strength of their institutions — and a demonstration of how those can take on life-or-death importance in catastrophes. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

The company’s founder, Jeff Bezos, envisions building space habitats that could house billions as a solution to environmental catastrophes on Earth. — Marissa E. Yingling, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2026

These include more defense spending, dealing with environmental catastrophes, and of course the political demands driven by populism. — Kenneth S. Rogoff, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026