1
as in disaster
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction
more than one natural catastrophe has threatened to destroy their farm over the years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in failure
something that has failed
the movie was a catastrophe, nearly bankrupting the studio that produced it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catastrophe
Noun
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The club would mark the anniversary before the game closest to the disaster.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026 -
The two were at odds over the press conferences that were held to update the public on the disaster and on efforts to reopen the burn area to traffic.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Republicans argue the region’s frustrations reflect years of structural failures under Cooper’s disaster management system, stretching back to earlier storms.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Feb. 2026
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Advocates say overcrowding is at the center of many of the jail's ongoing problems, from maintenance failures to safety concerns, and argue that recent flooding highlights deeper, long-standing issues.—
La'Tasha Givens,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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America can't look away from celebrity tragedy Crime relating to celebrities and public figures always becomes a huge news story in the United States, all the way back (at least) to the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh's baby in 1932.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
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Maxim Naumov Figure skater Maxim Naumov will make his first appearance at the Olympics after a year marked by tragedy and an emotional comeback.—
Aliza Chasan,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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While the ice apocalypse has wrapped up, dangerously cold air still has a grip on Texas.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
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Created in 1947, the Doomsday Clock was created to convey threats to humanity and the Earth using the imagery of apocalypse (midnight) and the contemporary idiom of nuclear explosion (countdown to zero).—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Starting in the 2026-27 school year, Oklahoma public schools will be limited to two days, or 12 hours, of virtual learning for calamity closures, including severe weather, per Senate Bill 758 authored by Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, and Senator Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond.—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
3 Feb. 2026
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Here’s where naming a Wall Street pro who’s a master of spotting where danger’s building may prove a hedge against a future calamity.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Catastrophe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catastrophe. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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