1
as in catastrophes
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction
hurricanes are natural disasters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in failures
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 disasters
The findings offer a new perspective on one of history’s most famous military disasters.
—
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Its experts worked hard to prepare for a variety of disasters, such as a freak weather event, a terrorist attack, or an airplane accidentally crashing into a reactor.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
And a nonprofit group reveals a large price tag on weather and climate disasters after federal cuts.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
In the far distant future of our planet, will memories persist about cosmic disasters that wiped out entire populations?
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
These communities are especially vulnerable to flooding, as seen in major flooding disasters in this area, including Hurricane Flora in 1963, which tragically claimed over 7,000 lives.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Scientists have documented how some types of events are becoming more common due to climate change, but another factor is that more people live on the coast and near forests — places already at risk for hurricanes, wildfires, and other disasters.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
In the months since the website was taken offline, Climate Central has recorded 14 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in the United States.
—Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Researchers expect millions of Americans to relocate from properties facing increasing risks of flood, fire and other kinds of disasters in the years ahead.
—Debolina Banerjee, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Its experts worked hard to prepare for a variety of disasters, such as a freak weather event, a terrorist attack, or an airplane accidentally crashing into a reactor.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
And a nonprofit group reveals a large price tag on weather and climate disasters after federal cuts.
—Christian Orozco, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
In the far distant future of our planet, will memories persist about cosmic disasters that wiped out entire populations?
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
These communities are especially vulnerable to flooding, as seen in major flooding disasters in this area, including Hurricane Flora in 1963, which tragically claimed over 7,000 lives.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Scientists have documented how some types of events are becoming more common due to climate change, but another factor is that more people live on the coast and near forests — places already at risk for hurricanes, wildfires, and other disasters.
—Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
In the months since the website was taken offline, Climate Central has recorded 14 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in the United States.
—Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2025
Researchers expect millions of Americans to relocate from properties facing increasing risks of flood, fire and other kinds of disasters in the years ahead.
—Debolina Banerjee, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disasters
Noun
-
In the book, Malahy detailed the numerous catastrophes that surrounded the months spent filming the movie, a loose adaptation of Joseph Conrad's 1899 novella, Heart of Darkness, in the Philippines.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
For me, the experience is moving—like a glimmer of wild hope amid a conservation landscape dominated by the looming catastrophes to come of climate change.—
Eric J. Wallace,
Outside,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For decades, conservation organizations have been working to restore oyster populations in the bay, accruing data along the way to learn from successes and failures.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
-
But like all investments, there are risks, and Ng has had some spooky failures.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And a lot of the pseudepigrapha, like the fake gospels and fake apocalypses, fill in gaps in the record that can serve latter-day, post-biblical purposes.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The audience for 2025’s reel of zombie apocalypses lives in a world shaped, in part, by Americans’ refusal to accept an aging Joe Biden’s ineligibility for President.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
9 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There’s often a focus on resilience, or the the ability to bounce back from disappointments and challenges, especially during times of transition or change.—
Ana Homayoun,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The 1-6 Miami Dolphins may be one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL this season.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
With projects bracing for termination, mission teams broken apart and safety protocols weakened, the guardrails that once kept NASA from repeating its worst tragedies are being stripped away in real time.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
-
After a devastating series of tragedies gets her medical license revoked, Maggie is without purpose, but not without passion.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Russians had already been converting Soviet-era bombs into glide munitions with a range of some 80 kilometers (50 miles), allowing aircraft to fire them while staying well clear of Ukrainian air defenses.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
-
His cookbook has recipes for flavor bombs like Ginger Ponzu Sauce, Magic Sauce and Sweet Garlic Teriyaki Sauce (click here to jump to the recipes below).—
Malaka Gharib,
NPR,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Whereas much of the original play unfolds as a steady stream of callers to the Tesmans’ estate, DaCosta cleverly restages these various interpersonal calamities against the backdrop of a lavish party.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The piling on of hurdles, unforeseen challenges, and calamities is almost ridiculous.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Driftwood tent shelters appear marooned like shipwrecks, and the beach is scattered with the bones of the giant whales.—
Chloe Berge,
AFAR Media,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The area was given the name after shipwrecks full of treasure, beginning in the 1600s, occurred due to the reefs and isolated location, according to multiple sources.—
Ashley J. DiMella , Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disasters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disasters. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share