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 the consequences of this strategically catastrophic campaign become ever more apparent, the New Right’s clout is set to grow, having opposed the war from the start. — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026

The heavy snows purify the air and insulate the food warehouses, locking in the high humidity and stable chill necessary to nurture delicate winter koji and yeast strains without catastrophic temperature spikes. — Adam H. Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026

Hurricane Sandy caused catastrophic damage across the Northeast, particularly in New York and New Jersey, making 2012 one of the costliest disaster years on record at the time. — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

This reading may be plausibly explained by the winter weather and by the effects of a catastrophic spinal-cord injury. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Hawaii cleans up after Hurricane Lala Communities struggled to recover after Tropical Storm Lala sideswiped Hawaii as a Category 1 hurricane, sparing the islands a direct hit but dumping more than 3½ feet of rain that caused catastrophic flooding. — Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026

The stakes are the kind of heart attack risk that stays invisible until something catastrophic happens. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026

President Keiko Fujimori, who took office on July 28, has said that addressing the potentially catastrophic climate phenomenon is a priority. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Some may transfer to a spouse’s policy, while others may find a lower-cost catastrophic insurance policy. — Robert Applebaum, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2026