Synonyms for catastrophe
kəˈtæs trə ficatas·tro·phe

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.9 / 7 votes

1. catastrophe

   A cataclysm or catastrophe is some great convulsion or momentous event that may or may not be a cause of misery to man. In calamity, or disaster, the thought of human suffering is always present. It has been held by many geologists that numerous catastrophes or cataclysms antedated the existence of man. In literature, the final event of a drama is the catastrophe, or denouement. Misfortune ordinarily suggests less of suddenness and violence than calamity or disaster, and is especially applied to that which is lingering or enduring in its effects. In history, the end of every great war or the fall of a nation is a catastrophe, tho it may not be a calamity. Yet such an event, if not a calamity to the race, will always involve much individual disaster and misfortune. Pestilence is a calamity; a defeat in battle, a shipwreck, or a failure in business is a disaster; sickness or loss of property is a misfortune; failure to meet a friend is a mischance; the breaking of a teacup is a mishap.

   Synonyms:
   calamity, cataclysm, denouement, disaster, mischance, misfortune, mishap, sequel

   Antonyms:
   benefit, blessing, boon, comfort, favor, help, pleasure, privilege, prosperity, success

   Preposition:
   The catastrophe of a play; of a siege; rarely, to a person, etc.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.5 / 4 votes

1. catastrophe

   Synonyms:
   revolution, disaster, calamity, misfortune, misadventure, reverse, blow, visitation

   Antonyms:
   blessing, victory, triumph, felicitation, achievement, ovation, success, godsend

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:2.0 / 3 votes

1. calamity, catastrophe, disaster, tragedy, cataclysmnoun

   an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

   "the whole city was affected by the irremediable calamity"; "the earthquake was a disaster"

   Synonyms:
   disaster, tragedy, calamity, cataclysm

2. catastrophe, disasternoun

   a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

   "lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system"; "his policies were a disaster"

   Synonyms:
   disaster, tragedy, calamity, cataclysm

3. catastrophe, cataclysmnoun

   a sudden violent change in the earth's surface

   Synonyms:
   disaster, tragedy, calamity, cataclysm

Matched Categories

1. • Adversity
   • Geological Phenomenon
   • Misfortune

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. catastrophenoun

   Synonyms:
   upshot, issue, consummation, conclusion, termination, denouement, FINALE, winding up, finishing stroke, final event

2. catastrophenoun

   Synonyms:
   CALAMITY, disaster, misfortune, mishap, mischance

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. catastrophenoun

   Synonyms:
   disaster, calamity

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "catastrophe":

   disaster, calamity, disasters, tragedy, nakba

How to pronounce catastrophe?

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How to use catastrophe in a sentence?

1. George Shultz:

   In the mid-80s, we found a lot of scientists saying the ozone layer is depleting, and there were some who doubted it, but they all agreed that if it happened, it would be a catastrophe. So President Reagan was convinced that the people who were worried were right.

2. Rushan Abbas:

   I am saddened by the timid response of the world community, world leaders, who should be defenders of the freedom and democracy, where is the outrage against such horrendous, repugnant catastrophe that's happening on our watch ?

3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy:

   All entries and exits from the city of Mariupol are blocked, the port is mined. A humanitarian catastrophe inside the city is unequivocal, because it is impossible to go there with food, medicine and water.

4. The Heathrow Pause group:

   This is a symbolic action, using a legal loophole and participants' self-sacrifice to draw attention to the most serious and urgent crisis humanity has ever faced, the government's inaction on climate change, and the looming catastrophe of airport expansion, gives us no choice and compels us to act.

5. Jesse Lehrich:

   They make cosmetic tweaks, whatever they think is enough to signal that they are taking things seriously. But they don't actually care, i have zero expectation that they'll make any meaningful changes to prevent another catastrophe.