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
Excluding disasters, sudden surges of this magnitude in requests for food or any other need are rare at 211s, and can signal both public worry and need, as happened in the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—
Matthew W. Kreuter, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
But Kalmaegi also collapsed flood-control infrastructure in the province that was ostensibly meant to protect citizens in such disasters.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Many of them fled to the cities from their rural, coastal home villages because the increasing frequency of disasters like floods, riverbank erosion and cyclones, also due to climate change, made their already fragile livelihoods untenable.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2025
From disasters to everyday hardships, Delivering Good helps to restore comfort, renew hope and help families move forward with dignity.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025
The current plan appears to use nearly all of the about $6 billion in the contingency fund, which is typically set aside for disasters or other unexpected needs.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Nov. 2025
Many of those people don't necessarily realize their high insurance and housing costs are being driven in part by billion-dollar disasters fueled by climate change, emergency managers say.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
The findings offer a new perspective on one of history’s most famous military disasters.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 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
Matthew W. Kreuter, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
But Kalmaegi also collapsed flood-control infrastructure in the province that was ostensibly meant to protect citizens in such disasters.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Many of them fled to the cities from their rural, coastal home villages because the increasing frequency of disasters like floods, riverbank erosion and cyclones, also due to climate change, made their already fragile livelihoods untenable.
—Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 5 Nov. 2025
From disasters to everyday hardships, Delivering Good helps to restore comfort, renew hope and help families move forward with dignity.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025
The current plan appears to use nearly all of the about $6 billion in the contingency fund, which is typically set aside for disasters or other unexpected needs.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Nov. 2025
Many of those people don't necessarily realize their high insurance and housing costs are being driven in part by billion-dollar disasters fueled by climate change, emergency managers say.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
The findings offer a new perspective on one of history’s most famous military disasters.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disasters
Noun
-
But catastrophes also tend to reveal deficits in society, and the patterns of destruction and abandonment that followed the fire—which have roots in America’s past and its present—tell us something about the country’s future, too.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
-
While people’s claims history, inflation, higher labor and construction costs play into increases nationwide, Coloradans face the additional burden of living in a state where the risk is high of catastrophes wreaking billions of dollars in damage.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Employers can create weekly forums where employees can share both AI successes and failures without judgment, then reallocate budgets away from underperforming AI experiments to pilots that are showing success.—
Feon Ang,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
One form Asks whether the tree appears To exhibit a history of failures.—
MaKshya Tolbert,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Luna is dreamy, while Jane is matter-of-fact, even about family tragedies.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Flags are usually flown at half-staff after national tragedies or deaths of government officials, military members or other first responders.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Chiefs have suffered some injuries at corner in past seasons, so there’s still time to get some use with Fulton, but for now this stands one of the season’s top disappointments.—
Sam McDowell
November 7,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
-
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
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
-
If and when American bombs start to fall, Venezuela’s military counterintelligence system will certainly be put to the test.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The brand is known for its luxurious bath bombs, four of which are included in this set.—
Molly Blanco,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Nov. 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
-
The ability to create and absorb failure has always been a key resource in an industry whose losers historically outnumber its winners.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
-
But Drew Baldridge counters the idea that nice guys are losers.—
Tom Roland,
Billboard,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disasters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disasters. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share