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

As humanity contemplates the potentially catastrophic effects of climate change, Sulej says the story of the Mastodonsaurus offers some hope. — ABC News, 22 July 2026

The last major hurricane to hit Miami-Dade County was the catastrophic Hurricane Andrew in 1992, but the city did not take a direct hit. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Boeing is trying to increase 737 Max output and is still reeling from a series of production and quality issues and a near-catastrophic blowout of a fuselage door plug in January 2024. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 21 July 2026

In 1973, three Blue Angels collided, resulting in a crash so catastrophic that no identifiable human remains were recovered. — Brynn Tannehill, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026

Such surplus funds, when accumulated over good years, provide great flexibility to stabilize after a catastrophic year without huge penalties, or simply create reserve funds. — Kumar Rupesh, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

At least two people have died as catastrophic flooding has stricken Texas Hill Country, a little over a year after rains overwhelmed the same region's Guadalupe River, causing flooding that killed over 130 people. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 17 July 2026

Beneath all the splendor, the couture, the balls, and the opera lurked an undercurrent of hatred, one that would fester and erupt in ways both insidious and catastrophic. — Literary Hub, 17 July 2026

Studying wildfires and wildfire smoke from orbit can give us a bigger picture view of these catastrophic event. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 17 July 2026