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

Guthrie responded to the catastrophic damage brought by hurricanes Idalia, Helene and Milton, and to other crises like the Surfside condo collapse. — Michael Van Sickler, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

Under American stewardship, catastrophic wars have shattered Lebanon, Libya, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Earlier this month, a catastrophic collapse and concerns about seismic instability forced Codelco to suspend an expansion project at the company’s El Teniente mine, which has operated for more than a century. — Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

When soul is neglected, however, the results can be catastrophic. — Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business Review, 17 Aug. 2026

Is the massive investment in artificial intelligence creating a catastrophic economic bubble? — Tom Bilyeu, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2026

Blue Origin has provided its first substantive update on the cause of the catastrophic loss of the New Glenn rocket and most of its launch pad infrastructure at Cape Canaveral, Florida, in May. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026

According to officials, catastrophic flooding in January 1997 devastated the species, inundating Caswell Memorial State Park and roughly 70 square miles between Manteca and Tracy. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

In Cambridge City and other nearby towns, catastrophic flooding ripped through roads and homes. — Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 14 Aug. 2026