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 The disaster left thousands of households without electricity and tens of thousands without tap water. — ABC News, 30 July 2026 Desperate struggles against the encroaching elements become a brief interlude before the situation unravels into a disaster of a different magnitude. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026 Community advocates say the disaster underscores long-standing environmental injustices in Eastside neighborhoods, urging faster cleanup and permanent closure of the facility. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 Those days are long gone, and the Luke Fickell experiment has been an unmitigated disaster. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 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
  • The story follows exiled prince Rama (Ranbir Kapoor) and his consort Sita (Sai Pallavi) through exile into catastrophe, as Sita’s abduction at the hands of Ravana (Yash) sets in motion an epic war between righteousness and evil.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • In fact, the war provided the exact lifeline that Putin needed to rescue him from economic catastrophe.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 30 July 2026
Definition of catastrophe
Noun
  • The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that there would be an emergency road closure at the inbound Lawrence Avenue exit on the Kennedy (Interstate 90), citing the early morning concrete retention wall failure as the reason.
    — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026
  • These failures stemmed not from new vulnerabilities, but from basic security flaws like weak passwords and unauthenticated endpoints, and reliance on assumptions over robust controls.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • The film’s story is said to follow a young dancer at an elite ballet school who finally earns the lead in a prestigious recital, but her focus is shattered by a family tragedy.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 30 July 2026
  • Our thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt condolences are with the families, friends, classmates, and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 30 July 2026
Definition of tragedy
Noun
  • And ultimately, the deepest disappointment comes from realizing that one of modern studio comedy’s sharpest romantic observers has confused awareness for insight, and in the process, left his most devoted fans behind.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Much to the disappointment of those fans who hoped to see Welbeck wear United’s shirt again, the club never showed any indication of pursuing him this summer.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of disappointment
Noun
  • While his beloved character didn’t outlive the zombie apocalypse, his romance with Pak bloomed.
    — Adrianne Reece, InStyle, 28 July 2026
  • The widow certainly has not had a lot to smile about in the zombie apocalypse, and definitely not to the man who brutally murdered her husband.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026
Definition of apocalypse
Noun
  • Most obviously, if IBM is so innovative, why have its own blockchain efforts proven a bust, and why is its broader business strategy in tatters?
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • There is a parade Saturday morning in Canton, followed by the enshrinement ceremony at noon, where his bust will also be unveiled.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of bust
Noun
  • Yoon drew extensively on these themes in his earlier works—most recently in the novel Run Me to Earth and the Story Prize–winning collection The Hive and the Honey—and his oeuvre depicts war’s psychological and material calamities.
    — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • But his avuncular encouragement of Tony in what could be absolute folly brings real heart to this section — until calamity intrudes.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
Definition of calamity

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disaster
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Cite this Entry

“Disaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disaster. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on disaster

Nglish: Translation of disaster for Spanish Speakers

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