1
as in fatal
bringing about ruin or misfortune
a split-second, disastrous decision that I would forever regret
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devastating
causing or tending to cause destruction
a disastrous fire from which the town never fully recovered
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disastrous
The Thunder faced a disastrous 15-0 deficit to begin Game 3.
—
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Not likely, especially as Emilia has inherited his disastrous boozing habits.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
In a normal world, where the One Wish Willow doesn’t exist and Nikki isn’t obsessed and that would lead to disastrous consequences, that would be the ideal scenario.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been fighting for his political life since the disastrous local and regional elections on May 7.
—Kate Andrews, Washington Post, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for disastrous
Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Not likely, especially as Emilia has inherited his disastrous boozing habits.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
In a normal world, where the One Wish Willow doesn’t exist and Nikki isn’t obsessed and that would lead to disastrous consequences, that would be the ideal scenario.
—Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been fighting for his political life since the disastrous local and regional elections on May 7.
—Kate Andrews, Washington Post, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for disastrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disastrous
Adjective
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Graham himself would also be out of luck if past Trump criticism were always politically fatal.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
19 May 2026
-
Moments after a security guard broke up the beating and the teenagers scattered, the 13-year-old came upon David and his girlfriend at the fountain plaza next to the theaters where the fatal stabbing took place.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
Nearly all industrial hydrogen is currently produced by stripping it from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, a process that emits devastating amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
18 May 2026
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Putin has claimed that Oreshnik’s multiple warheads plunge at speeds of up to Mach 10 and can’t be intercepted, and that several such missiles used in a conventional strike could be as devastating as a nuclear attack.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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And yes, there is the unfortunate elephant in the room.—
Pete Sweeney
May 22,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
Now resupply is by motorbike, ground robot or drone or in the case of Russia, carried on the backs of unfortunate soldiers known as camels.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, has pleaded not guilty to starting what became one of the most destructive wildfires in California history.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
-
In late March a teen takeover in Hyde Park turned destructive, badly damaging cars.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
In July 1997, parts of Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic were struck by catastrophic river flooding that left more than 100 people dead.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
14 May 2026
-
Blake scrambles back to prevent the catastrophic, but the shot flies over the bar.—
Franklin Leonard,
Vanity Fair,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disastrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disastrous. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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