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 South’s favorite disaster authority provides an informal measure of how significantly a storm will affect or has affected a community. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 Judging simply by the statistics, Liam Hendriks’ 2023 season seemed like a disaster. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2026 This dislodges an ice shelf the size of Maryland (nicknamed Judy) and sets it on a collision course with the coast of Norway—a disaster that would see massive tidal waves destroying much of the European coast. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 7 Oct. 2026 Luckily this didn't pose any problems for STS-112, but this was the same thing that caused the Columbia shuttle disaster just three months later. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 7 Oct. 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 top prize there was awarded to The Lake, directed by Abby Ellis, a film exploring the environmental catastrophe posed by the rapidly shrinking Great Salt Lake in Utah.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Mahomes’ rapid recovery from last year’s ACL/LCL catastrophe is great news for Kansas City fans and the NFL’s TV/streaming partners, as he and the Chiefs are slated to pop up in as many as 12 national windows before the playoffs arrive.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of catastrophe
Noun
  • The installation at the military’s oldest active test base would help shield critical defense operations from wider grid failures.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
  • After he was released from the hospital, 22-year-old Nicholas James Stedeford-Aaron was arrested and charged with driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger and failure to move over for emergency vehicles with injury.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • His story does not add up; there is even more weirdness among extended family, and the tragedies pile up.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce — or in this case, as an uncanny sort of San Francisco camp.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of tragedy
Noun
  • Chastain voiced her disappointment with the decision at the time in a statement shared on social media.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Retiring from the national team seemed to be an option after that World Cup disappointment, but Ronaldo said he was urged to continue by the Portuguese soccer federation president – something which now looks incredibly ill-advised.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of disappointment
Noun
  • The new series picks up after Korra’s actions, which inadvertently lead to an apocalypse that forces humanity to take refuge in the titular Havens, all of which have visually distinct identities.
    — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • In addition, there's a killer-looking dark apocalypse comedy and a docuseries about one of the most famous boxers of all time.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of apocalypse
Noun
  • California’s revenue is notoriously top heavy, leaving state coffers vulnerable to boom-and-bust cycles as the wealthiest residents see their incomes rise and fall with the stock market.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Several people have been charged in connection with the bust, but whoever oversaw the network has so far managed to elude arrest.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of bust
Noun
  • The toxic loans were also packaged and peddled around the world to banks everywhere, resulting in a calamity.
    — Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
  • During each and every move, some sort of financial calamity resulted.
    — Sean Conlon, CNBC, 24 Sep. 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 12 Oct. 2026.

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