Synonyms of catastrophic

catastrophic

adjective

as in disastrous

bringing about ruin or misfortune

a catastrophic tornado destroyed the hamlet's only house of worship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disastrous
• fatal
• unfortunate
• destructive
• calamitous
• ruinous
• fateful
• damning
• apocalyptic
• cataclysmal
• adverse
• damaging
• detrimental
• harmful
• deleterious
• hapless
• injurious
• pernicious
• luckless
• evil
• baneful
• ill-fated
• prejudicial
• ill-starred
• hurtful
• noxious
• baleful
• ill

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fortuitous
• happy
• fortunate
• lucky
• providential
• fluky
• promising
• optimistic
• fair
• golden
• hopeful
• bright
• rosy
• encouraging
• propitious
• auspicious
• upbeat
• heartening
• rose-colored

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of catastrophic

And some states are responding to threats of catastrophic wildfires often sparked by their own utility equipment. — John Farrell, Time, 9 Nov. 2026

The results have been catastrophic for underdeveloped nations. — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2026

The flooding threat in Texas comes just days after catastrophic flooding along the Tennessee-Georgia border, prompting numerous water rescues, officials said. — ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026

The injection virtually eliminated vitamin K deficiency bleeding, a rare condition that can cause catastrophic bleeding and even death. — Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 8 Nov. 2026

Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images As a post-midterm rally Wednesday turned into a steep sell-off Thursday, tech executives sought to look through the notion that potential data center constraints could be catastrophic for their businesses. — Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

As the days until payment is due tick grimly by, Irwin and Hester grow increasingly fretful and angry, and their widening divisions wrench the family apart, to intimately catastrophic effect. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2026

Carriers can respond with exclusions and sub-limits, and private capacity should not be assumed sufficient for catastrophic AI exposures. — Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Throughout the campaign, Holscher painted Masterson as an extremist whose election could have catastrophic consequences for public education, tax policy and civil rights. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026