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
California is being hammered with more frequent and devastating catastrophes, and that’s making the entire insurance market riskier and more expensive, exacerbating mistakes made by government and the private sector alike.
—
Ben Allen, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
What was in the hearts of the humans who diarized catastrophes on the Elbe’s river rocks seven centuries ago—and in 2018?
—Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
Here are some of the more prominent campaign-altering catastrophes.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
There has been no lesson learned and inadequate spending on infrastructure improvements, which would help prevent future catastrophes.
—Kristine Alessio, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
At the center of that calculation is the Disaster Relief Fund, FEMA's primary account for responding to catastrophes.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
But although the two films have imminent solar catastrophes at their core, their approaches to saving the world from extreme global cooling are radically different.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 19 Apr. 2026
Shaboozey doesn’t identify as a poli-sci expert but could still acknowledge human-rights catastrophes.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
In 1941, Japan’s Pearl Harbor surprise attack triggered a nearly 2-year chain of American military catastrophes.
—Gil Troy, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
Ben Allen, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
What was in the hearts of the humans who diarized catastrophes on the Elbe’s river rocks seven centuries ago—and in 2018?
—Literary Hub, 30 Apr. 2026
Here are some of the more prominent campaign-altering catastrophes.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
There has been no lesson learned and inadequate spending on infrastructure improvements, which would help prevent future catastrophes.
—Kristine Alessio, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
At the center of that calculation is the Disaster Relief Fund, FEMA's primary account for responding to catastrophes.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
But although the two films have imminent solar catastrophes at their core, their approaches to saving the world from extreme global cooling are radically different.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 19 Apr. 2026
Shaboozey doesn’t identify as a poli-sci expert but could still acknowledge human-rights catastrophes.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026
In 1941, Japan’s Pearl Harbor surprise attack triggered a nearly 2-year chain of American military catastrophes.
—Gil Troy, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catastrophes
Noun
-
Through skill, sacrifice and professionalism, our first responders have narrowly avoided major disasters, including the recent high-rise fire in Towson that could have ended far worse without rapid response and coordination on scene.—
Nick Stewart,
Baltimore Sun,
9 May 2026
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That could leave states on the hook for millions of dollars to rebuild roads, schools and other infrastructure after tornadoes, floods and other disasters that do not cause enough widespread damage to meet the new criteria for federal assistance.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The massive rocket has encountered a number of anomalies and failures since its debut in April 2023 ended in a premature explosion, including fiery mishaps both on the test stand and mid-flight that have attracted plenty of headlines.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
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However, residents are still under a boil water order while crews continue testing and monitoring for additional failures.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
13 May 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
-
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
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Early in his life, Short experienced multiple family tragedies in a short span of time, including the death of his older brother David in a car accident in 1962 when the actor was only 12-years-old.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
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Everyone was in a hurry to move forward into a newly peaceful world, a world without the tragedies of war abroad and the curse of sickness at home.—
Fran Moreland Johns,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The winter had been a season of calamities, with one emergency or challenge after another.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
Farmers markets — that humble and charming throwback to a bygone era — are also struggling with higher fuel prices, after weathering the economic calamities of the pandemic and other misfortunes.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Catastrophes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catastrophes. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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