Synonyms for

Catastrophe

Verb / kʌˈtæstrʌfi: / Another word for catastrophe — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a sudden and terrible disaster or misfortune

Synonyms & similar words

calamity cataclysm disaster tragedy disaster tragedy cataclysm calamity crisis upheaval devastation ruin debacle fiasco failure misfortune adversity mishap accident blow setback tribulation hardship distress

Synonyms by register

Formal

calamity disaster cataclysm upheaval

Informal

mess disaster wreck shambles

Literary

ruin bane woe

Antonyms

blessing boon miracle godsend success triumph prosperity

Common collocations

  • natural catastrophe
  • economic catastrophe
  • environmental catastrophe
  • prevent a catastrophe
  • avert catastrophe
  • face a catastrophe
  • avoid catastrophe

Word family

noun catastrophe
adjective catastrophic

Usage note

Catastrophe implies a sudden, widespread disaster. While 'disaster' can be used informally for minor mishaps, 'catastrophe' generally refers to a much more severe event.

Example sentences

  1. The fire was a catastrophe for the forest.
  2. The plane crash was a catastrophe for the families of the passengers.
  3. The flood was a catastrophe for the whole town.
  4. The pandemic was a catastrophe for the economy.
  5. The hurricane was a catastrophe for the coastal cities.

Quotes

  • A catastrophe is a turning point which, in spite of its badness, has the effect of bringing about a sudden and radical change in someone's life. -Orson Welles
  • The greater the catastrophe, the more seriously people take life. -William H. Gass
  • Catastrophes are often stimulated by the failure to feel the emergence of a domain, and so what cannot be felt in the present, floods the future. -William Irwin Thompson

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