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
Less than six weeks later, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was removed from her position, likely a result of a chain of PR disasters from DHS.
—
Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 12 Mar. 2026
The deadly bus fire comes two months after one of the worst fire disasters in Switzerland in recent decades.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 11 Mar. 2026
The pop culture star, advocate and entrepreneur Paris Hilton launched an initiative Monday to support female small-business owners impacted by disasters, a nationwide expansion of her philanthropic support for women entrepreneurs after the 2025 Los Angeles fires.
—Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
An interpretive center has taught generations of young children about the importance of the ecosystem and how disasters can create a chain of impacts.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
Oil is lighter than water — that’s why disasters like those caused by the Exxon Valdez tanker and the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig create slicks on the surface.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Priority is given to people living in counties that have been impacted by disasters, and any remaining funds could go to people in other counties.
—Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 6 Mar. 2026
Interestingly, the mechanical design ensures the device remains operational during the power outages that typically accompany major earthquakes or structural disasters.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
The bill outlines specific kinds of events that would qualify as weather disasters subject to the board’s scrutiny.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 12 Mar. 2026
The deadly bus fire comes two months after one of the worst fire disasters in Switzerland in recent decades.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 11 Mar. 2026
The pop culture star, advocate and entrepreneur Paris Hilton launched an initiative Monday to support female small-business owners impacted by disasters, a nationwide expansion of her philanthropic support for women entrepreneurs after the 2025 Los Angeles fires.
—Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
An interpretive center has taught generations of young children about the importance of the ecosystem and how disasters can create a chain of impacts.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 9 Mar. 2026
Oil is lighter than water — that’s why disasters like those caused by the Exxon Valdez tanker and the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig create slicks on the surface.
—ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026
Priority is given to people living in counties that have been impacted by disasters, and any remaining funds could go to people in other counties.
—Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 6 Mar. 2026
Interestingly, the mechanical design ensures the device remains operational during the power outages that typically accompany major earthquakes or structural disasters.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
The bill outlines specific kinds of events that would qualify as weather disasters subject to the board’s scrutiny.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disasters
Noun
-
Not everyone can be Francis Ford Coppola, funding his own feverish catastrophes by selling off one of his vineyards.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Kennedy has made no bones about his misplaced skepticism of mRNA vaccines, pinging off the proliferating conspiracies around the COVID vaccines — incredible innovations that saved countless lives during one of the worst global catastrophes in recent memory.—
The Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Ford’s deployment is notable not only for its length but also its pace, with operations in two hemispheres, combat in the Middle East, and maintenance challenges, including recurring plumbing failures that drew public attention.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The foundation said that besides Lee's 911 call, at least four other 911 calls were made by others that day, including from her husband and people who saw parts of the crime unfolding -- but that communication failures and other issues prevented help from being sent.—
DAVID FISCHER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Drane says these kinds of look-alike firearms have led to tragedies.—
Ross Guidotti,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Worst of all, the program would eventually sustain two heartbreaking tragedies.—
Michael Carrafiello,
The Conversation,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
During the course of the film, Grace deals with life, love (including a pair of paramours from the same band), professional disappointments, and the fallout of a horrible experience from her past.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Yet, the depth chart has certainly shifted since the start of the season, as some players have been pleasant surprises, and others disappointments.—
Kevin Kurz,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Based on Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth, the surrealist musical follows one nuclear family across thousands of years and three apocalypses.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
10 Dec. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
One of the hosts yelled repeatedly about the results, complained about just about everything and dropped a lot of F-bombs.—
Jacobina Martin,
Washington Post,
16 Mar. 2026
-
In one case in 2024, the Jalisco New Generation cartel dropped more than 100 bombs on one community in the mountains of Guerrero in a 24-hour period, according to a former cartel operative who witnessed the bombings.—
Steve Fisher,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Wisconsin has built a cool house, but left itself underinsured against win-or-go-home calamities.—
Peter Keating,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
There were intervening calamities that Walz, Ellison and Omar had nothing to do with, COVID-19 and the death of George Floyd.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Continue reading … CAPITOL CHAOS — House GOP fears primary losers could jeopardize razor-thin majority.—
,
FOXNews.com,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Economic winners and losers For now, the war is likely to create economic winners and losers.—
Paul Wiseman,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disasters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disasters. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
