disastrous

adjective

di-ˈza-strəs How to pronounce disastrous (audio)
Definition of disastrousnext
1
as in fatal
bringing about ruin or misfortune a split-second, disastrous decision that I would forever regret

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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

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 disastrous But real power, particularly in numbers, can make things happen or stop really disastrous things from happening. — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 The 46-year-old was dismissed from the Mets halfway through the 2026 season after a disastrous start, which included a 12-game losing streak in April. — Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 The timing was curious, coming after an underwhelming but hardly disastrous European performance, as was the identity of the messenger. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 In the centuries since, concrete has come to reshape our way of life, with disastrous results for the climate. — Sara Herschander, Vox, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disastrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disastrous
  1. fatal
  2. devastating
  3. unfortunate
  4. destructive
  5. catastrophic
Adjective
  • Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system and can be fatal in humans if treatment is not received before symptoms develop.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The driver of the pickup truck was found unresponsive with fatal injuries and pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel, police said.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of fatal
Adjective
  • Roughly two months after fire ripped through Newhall’s historic downtown, four people are under arrest, accused of arson and conspiracy in the devastating blaze.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • French Algerian director Bouchareb, whose 2006 drama Days of Glory was Oscar-nominated, examines the devastating consequences that continue to affect local populations and the environment more than six decades later.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of devastating
Adjective
  • The unfortunate truth is, most of them have lowered their standards in admissions and education.
    — Ian Kingsbury, Sun Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Just ask this unfortunate Alaskan bear recently spotted with several multi-foot long tapeworms hanging out of its butt.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • As part of a plea agreement, O’Connor pleaded guilty in May to one count of knowingly possessing two destructive devices that were not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Also among the Golden Dawn initiates was infamous occultist Aleister Crowley, who the documentary said was a destructive force in the group, binging on drugs while being accused of summoning demons using Golden Dawn rituals.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of destructive
Adjective
  • According to authorities, no one tried to help Browner, who suffered catastrophic injuries.
    — Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Engineers in the United States are using sound to identify potential catastrophic failures of drones.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of catastrophic

Browse Nearby Words

disasters
disastrous
disastrously
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Cite this Entry

“Disastrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disastrous. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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