DISASTERS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

disasters

noun

plural of disaster

as in catastrophes

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

as in failures

something that has failed an utter disaster, the play opened and closed on the same miserable night

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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 There are more conflicts today than at any time since the Second World War, and climate disasters are accelerating. — Jeannie Annan, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 The avalanche is considered one of the worst disasters in Nepal mountaineering history. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026 During emergencies, those facilities are converted into places of refuge from fires, floods or other disasters. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Kim argues that a state-run model could tie premium amounts with mitigation efforts, which would give homeowners an incentive to invest in efforts to reduce their risk of a fire or other disasters. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026 Matthias Huss is cautious about making a direct link between climate change and such disasters. — Imogen Foulkes, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026 But one of the few voices of reason, scientist Ganesh (Riz Ahmed, also one of the few performances allowed any nuance), speaks up to explain how that would set off a whole new chain of disasters, refusing to sugarcoat the awful truth for the public. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026 Molly saved herself in the showstopper with a gorgeous pink-and-orange cake that has the consistency of a fuzzy sweater, and there was nothing Shannon could have done that would have been worse than Danni’s two disasters. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026 On Standby follows Sagit, a 33-year-old airport security screener whose brutally honest view of the world and chaotic personal life turn even the most ordinary interactions into painfully funny disasters. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for disasters

Noun

With wars and climate catastrophes hitting a world still reeling from 7 million deaths caused by COVID-19, Shelley’s pandemic novel has perhaps never felt so relevant.

— Eileen Hunt, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026
Tuesday’s scene was a mixture of confusion and chaos with first responders fanned out across two catastrophes and television news teams desperately trying to find out whether their journalists were safe.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of catastrophes

Noun

The disclosure could deepen scrutiny of the security failures surrounding the flight after officials revealed the Omani co-pilot had previously been barred from flying in his home country over concerns about his extremist views.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
But let’s also be clear that the General Assembly shares responsibility for the failures.

— Dr. Matthew Warshauer, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of failures

Noun

Suicide, unfortunately, is not uncommon among the young, and in fact, several sources have noted a recent rash of these tragedies in the Aurora community.

— Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
But while the show has had staggering success and an enduring legacy over the past decade off the air, it’s also been marked by multiple tragedies.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of tragedies

Noun

This director who’s had three disappointments in a row is the person to invest in?

— Chris Lee, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
There will be early disappointments, like the rough start the Dolphins (0-2) got off to in road losses to the Las Vegas Raiders and San Francisco 49ers.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of disappointments

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

Definition of apocalypses

Noun

The defense electronics and arms manufacturer’s products, including high explosive tank shells and 500-pound bombs, have been traced to the scene of multiple Israeli strikes that killed civilians, according to analysis by CNN and rights groups.

— Allegra Goodwin, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Rather, such groups, exploiting the perception of women as less of a security threat, primarily saw women’s active role in offensive operations as that of a conveyor of bombs.

— Sara Harmouch, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of bombs

Noun

To avert future calamities, the forest outside Bordeaux must be thinned and its fire breaks widened, said Arthur Guérin-Turcq, a Sorbonne University geographer whose family cultivates pines near Le Porge.

— Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Indeed, conflict and calamities are major factors in financial repression.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of calamities

Noun

However, sticking to the basics of fundamental analysis means that while the selection standard may be higher, the process of determining winners and losers is largely unchanged.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Sportsbooks could do the same to losers who are digging deeper and deeper holes.

— Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of losers

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disasters

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“Disasters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disasters. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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