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

The dependency is often invisible in normal times but could be catastrophic in a crisis. — Sajal Singh, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Not just any bill, but this year’s biggest in the state Legislature, dealing with catastrophic wildfires, arguably the state’s most perilous problem. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

That an event, no matter how catastrophic and impactful, takes up less space in public memory and is supplanted by new ones is, after all, how history works. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

The catastrophic flash floods in Nepal show the extreme peril posed by melting glacial ice in the Himalayas. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2026

This includes the prohibitive cost of total economic decoupling and the catastrophic consequences of potential military conflict. — Da Wei, Foreign Affairs, 7 Sep. 2026

The disaster was made worse by the river’s enormous sediment load, which raises its bed and makes catastrophic breaches possible. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation provides homes and scholarships for families of veterans and first responders who lost their lives as well as those who’ve suffered catastrophic injuries. — CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026

Even after a catastrophic 2023 heatwave set off the worst coral bleaching event in state history, some plucky polyps clung to life. — Nicolás Rivero, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026