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

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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 Rescuers continued recovering bodies from the artisanal mining site in Zamboye, near the border with Cameroon, but local workers said that the response lacked the equipment and expertise needed for a disaster of this scale. — Jean Fernand Koena, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Officials in Lake and Porter counties have issued disaster declarations. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 Slash’s groundsnake won’t hurt humans, but human activity could spell disaster for this snake and other creatures in New Guinea. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 20 Aug. 2026 Adames also committed an error on a routine grounder in the bottom of the seventh that could’ve spelled disaster, but Houser got out of the inning unscathed. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 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
  • That tension between catastrophe for humanity and recovery for nature runs all the way to the ending.
    — Solitaire Townsend, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The first step in averting this spiral toward catastrophe is for both Beijing and Washington to bear in mind that these economic tools were not designed as weapons.
    — GLORIA XIONG, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of catastrophe
Noun
  • The failure by American and Canadian trade negotiators to reach a deal came after nearly two weeks of furious talks.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Ultimately Keegan’s team fell short, but this was no failure.
    — Michael Walker, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • At first, its plea to remain somewhere in an old lover’s life can feel like the whole tragedy.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Boeing has admitted fault in these tragedies, attributing the cause of the crashes to a flawed Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of tragedy
Noun
  • At the same time, the Panthers saw very little impact from their pass rush — a disappointment considering the beleaguered state of Houston’s offensive line — and Stroud didn’t struggle to find short completions.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In the comments, fans congratulated Aly on her Broadway debut while others shared their disappointment over not being able to see the duo live.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of disappointment
Noun
  • The Bronx spans several blocks of Calle 56 and looks like a junkyard apocalypse.
    — Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Worried about the dog in the sci-fi apocalypse thriller The End of Oak Street?
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of apocalypse
Noun
  • That is because the Ivorian cocoa industry remains tethered to the boom and bust of commodity prices.
    — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Nothing can ruin your day quite like the dull ache of underwire hoisting up your bust.
    — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of bust
Noun
  • The ads’ claims of calamity are certain to be contested by the union backing the tax, SEIU United Healthworkers West.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Indeed, conflict and calamities are major factors in financial repression.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of calamity

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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 27 Aug. 2026.

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