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
  • An institution built explicitly to neutralize biological catastrophes is now at the center of one.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
  • With climate change making natural disasters far more frequent, some consumers are turning to smaller off-grid electric networks to generate power in the event of a catastrophe.
    — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of catastrophe
Noun
  • Let Congress know how dire the situation is (or will be, if there’s a failure to act).
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The stunning failure in Tennessee's execution chamber on Wednesday has left both sides of the death penalty debate demanding answers.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 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 film is a satire about an impending climate change apocalypse that’s triggered by the drilling operations of oil tycoon Digger Rockwell, played by Cruise, who looks nearly unrecognizable clad in prosthetics and graying hair.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In it, Cruise disappears behind makeup and prosthetics into the role of Texas oilman Digger Rockwell, whose company sparks an ecological disaster that could end in nuclear apocalypse.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of apocalypse
Noun
  • So far, the change at offensive coordinator to former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has been a bust for the Chargers.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • In the latest dubious milestone for US Treasuries, the yield on the 10-year benchmark note just hit its highest level since the dot-com bust.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 1 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

Browse Nearby Words

disassociating
disaster
disasters
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Cite this Entry

“Disaster.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disaster. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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