disaster

noun

di-ˈza-stər How to pronounce disaster (audio)
Definition of disasternext
1
as in catastrophe
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction hurricanes are natural disasters

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in failure
something that has failed an utter disaster, the play opened and closed on the same miserable night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disaster Yet even as official rescue operations wind down, one of the disaster’s biggest unanswered questions remains the fate of thousands of people who have yet to be accounted for. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026 Anyone who was penalized for not paying their taxes or for filing late tax returns during the disaster declaration period plus 60 days may be eligible for potential refunds or abatements if the judge’s ruling holds. — Connor Greene, Time, 8 July 2026 Democratic lawmakers in Arizona and Nevada introduced a bill in Congress last year that would add extreme heat to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's list of major disaster qualifying events, unlocking access to federal support. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 8 July 2026 On Wednesday, jittery neighbors said the near disaster is definitely keeping them on edge. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for disaster
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disaster
  1. catastrophe
  2. failure
  3. tragedy
  4. disappointment
  5. apocalypse
  6. bust
  7. calamity
Noun
  • In the work of fiction, the ship is taken over to prevent catastrophe.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
  • The young girls are referred to as Heaven’s 27 by their surviving families, who are determined to honor their legacy by ensuring such a catastrophe never happens again.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
Definition of catastrophe
Noun
  • Any actions against those responsible for the structural failure are pending the results of the ongoing investigation, the Department of Buildings said earlier this week.
    — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • The notion of remaining in your childhood home well into your adult years carries an enduring stigma, suggesting a failure to launch.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 11 July 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • In a statement Wednesday evening, DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson called the death a tragedy and said the county remains committed to transparency and integrity.
    — Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
  • With two children dying so far this summer after being left inside cars during South Florida’s sweltering heat season, experts are urging parents and other caregivers to take a series of steps to prevent tragedies.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026
Definition of tragedy
Noun
  • Since World Cup tickets began selling on FIFA Marketplace last September, fans have expressed disappointment in the expensive price tag.
    — Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Coach Hossam Hassan and captain Mohamed Salah expressed their disappointment after the match, while several former players and television pundits also questioned the officiating.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 8 July 2026
Definition of disappointment
Noun
  • The same year, another, longer-running TV version focused on the story of survivors after an alien apocalypse that had wiped out most of the Earth's population.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 4 July 2026
  • Closing the Manhattan Bridge, diverting traffic, and managing the safety of staging a zombie apocalypse downtown required the cooperation and manpower of multiple agencies with their own sets of pressing priorities and responsibilities.
    — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 30 June 2026
Definition of apocalypse
Noun
  • The memory industry is notorious for its boom and bust cycles.
    — Bailey Lipschultz, Fortune, 5 July 2026
  • Bronze busts of women’s champions Kathleen McKane Godfree, Dorothy Round, Angela Mortimer, Ann Jones and Virginia Wade were unveiled in 2004.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of bust
Noun
  • The operation was a testament to the growing effectiveness of a multinational collection of urban search-and-rescue squads — known as USAR — that have become ubiquitous life-savers at epicenters of calamity across the globe.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • There have been few comments about improvements or calamities, other than the usual notes that battery life was reduced immediately after installation, which is commonplace.
    — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of calamity

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disaster
disasters
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Cite this Entry

“Disaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disaster. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of disaster for Spanish Speakers

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