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Catastrophe synonyms

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calamity
Deep trouble or misery
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  1. Deep trouble or misery
  2. Any extreme misfortune bringing great loss and sorrow; disaster
  3. An event that brings terrible loss, lasting distress, or severe affliction; a disaster:
disaster
An utter failure
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  1. An utter failure
  2. Any happening that causes great harm or damage; serious or sudden misfortune; calamity
  3. An occurrence causing widespread destruction and distress; a catastrophe.
mishap
Evil accident; ill luck; misfortune; mischance.
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  1. Evil accident; ill luck; misfortune; mischance.
  2. An accident, mistake, or problem.
  3. An unlucky or unfortunate accident
mischance
Bad luck or an instance of it
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  1. Bad luck or an instance of it
  2. A mishap, an unlucky circumstance.
  3. An unlucky accident; misadventure
misadventure
An unlucky accident; mishap; an instance of bad luck
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  1. An unlucky accident; mishap; an instance of bad luck
  2. An accident or unlucky event.
  3. (Eng. Law) Death caused accidentally by someone while performing a legal act and with no intent to injure
failure
The act or fact of failing to pass a course, test, or assignment.
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  1. The act or fact of failing to pass a course, test, or assignment.
  2. A cessation of proper functioning or performance:
  3. The condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short:
fiasco
A bottle; esp., a long-necked wine bottle with a rounded lower portion covered in woven straw
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  1. A bottle; esp., a long-necked wine bottle with a rounded lower portion covered in woven straw
  2. A complete failure; esp., an ambitious project that ends as a ridiculous failure
misery
A condition of great wretchedness or suffering because of pain, sorrow, poverty, etc.; distress
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  1. A condition of great wretchedness or suffering because of pain, sorrow, poverty, etc.; distress
  2. The state of suffering and want as a result of physical circumstances or extreme poverty.
  3. A cause of such suffering; pain, sorrow, poverty, squalor, etc.
accident
An unintended and unexpected event, especially one that is undesirable or harmful, that does not occur in the usual course of events under the circumstances in which it occurred, or that would not be reasonably anticipated.
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  1. An unintended and unexpected event, especially one that is undesirable or harmful, that does not occur in the usual course of events under the circumstances in which it occurred, or that would not be reasonably anticipated.
  2. (Law) An unforeseen event that occurs without anyone's fault or negligence
  3. An unforeseen event that is not the result of intention or has no apparent cause:
trouble
A state of distress, affliction, difficulty, or need:
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  1. A state of distress, affliction, difficulty, or need:
  2. A person, circumstance, or event that causes annoyance, distress, difficulty, etc.
  3. A condition of pain, disease, or malfunction:
casualty
An accident, especially one involving serious injury or loss of life.
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  1. An accident, especially one involving serious injury or loss of life.
  2. An individual or property that has been destroyed, injured, lost, or otherwise made ineffective.
  3. The harm to an individual or property as a result of a sudden, unexpected, or unusual event.
misfortune
Bad luck; ill fortune; trouble; adversity
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  1. Bad luck; ill fortune; trouble; adversity
  2. The condition resulting from bad fortune or ill luck:
  3. An undesirable event such as an accident
infliction
The act of inflicting
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  1. The act of inflicting
  2. The act or process of imposing or meting out something unpleasant.
affliction
Anything causing pain or distress; calamity
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  1. Anything causing pain or distress; calamity
  2. An afflicted condition; pain; suffering
contretemps
An unforeseen, inopportune, or embarrassing event; a hitch
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  1. An unforeseen, inopportune, or embarrassing event; a hitch
  2. An unforeseen event that disrupts the normal course of things; an inopportune occurrence.
  3. An inopportune happening causing confusion or embarrassment; awkward mishap
stroke
A sudden action or process having a strong impact or effect:
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  1. A sudden action or process having a strong impact or effect:
  2. A sudden occurrence or result:
  3. A sudden cerebrovascular failure usually caused by arteriosclerosis, hypertension, embolism, or hemorrhage and resulting variously in impaired vision and speech, coma, convulsions, paralysis, etc.
havoc
Great destruction and devastation, as that resulting from hurricanes, wars, etc.
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  1. Great destruction and devastation, as that resulting from hurricanes, wars, etc.
  2. Disorder or chaos:
  3. Widespread destruction; devastation.
ravage
The act or practice of violently destroying; destruction
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  1. The act or practice of violently destroying; destruction
  2. Ruin; devastating damage
  3. Destruction, damage, or harm:
wreck
The remains of anything, often, specif., a motor vehicle, that has been destroyed or badly damaged
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  1. The remains of anything, often, specif., a motor vehicle, that has been destroyed or badly damaged
  2. Something that is dilapidated or worn out:
  3. An automobile or railroad collision or accident:
fatality
A decree made by fate; destiny.
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  1. A decree made by fate; destiny.
  2. A fatal quality; deadly effect; deadliness
  3. The ability to cause death or disaster.
grief
Trouble; difficulty
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  1. Trouble; difficulty
  2. Trouble or difficulty, or an instance of this:
  3. A cause or the subject of such suffering
crash
Starched reinforced fabric used to strengthen a book binding or the spine of a bound book.
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  1. Starched reinforced fabric used to strengthen a book binding or the spine of a bound book.
  2. (Computers) A sudden failure of a hard drive caused by damaging contact between the head and the storage surface, often resulting in the loss of data on the drive.
  3. A sudden failure of a program or operating system, usually without serious consequences.
devastation
Waste of the goods of the deceased by an executor or administrator.
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  1. Waste of the goods of the deceased by an executor or administrator.
  2. The act of devastating, or the state of being devastated; a laying waste.
  3. A devastating or being devastated; destruction; desolation
desolation
A desolate condition
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  1. A desolate condition
  2. The state of being abandoned or forsaken; loneliness:
  3. Lonely grief; misery
avalanche
A process resulting in the production of large numbers of ionized particles, in which electrons or ions collide with molecules, with each collision itself producing an additional electron or ion that in turn collides with other molecules. Avalanches are what generate the pulses of electric current that are registered by Geiger counters.
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  1. A process resulting in the production of large numbers of ionized particles, in which electrons or ions collide with molecules, with each collision itself producing an additional electron or ion that in turn collides with other molecules. Avalanches are what generate the pulses of electric current that are registered by Geiger counters.
  2. A mass of loosened snow, earth, rocks, etc. suddenly and swiftly sliding down a mountain, often growing as it descends
  3. The sudden fall or slide of a large mass of material down the side of a mountain. Avalanches may contain snow, ice, rock, soil, or a mixture of these materials. Avalanches can be triggered by changes in temperature, by sound vibrations, or by vibrations in the earth itself.
hardship
The difficulty or distress resulting to an individual or entity from a court decision, zoning decision, or passage of a law; taken into account as one factor in an equity proceeding. The difficulty or distress resulting to an individual or entity from a court decision, zoning decision, or passage of a law; taken into account as one factor in an equity proceeding.
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  1. The difficulty or distress resulting to an individual or entity from a court decision, zoning decision, or passage of a law; taken into account as one factor in an equity proceeding. The difficulty or distress resulting to an individual or entity from a court decision, zoning decision, or passage of a law; taken into account as one factor in an equity proceeding.
  2. The condition of lacking necessities or comforts; privation or suffering.
  3. A thing hard to bear; specific cause of discomfort or suffering, as poverty, pain, etc.
blow
The state of blossoming:
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  1. The state of blossoming:
  2. An unexpected shock or calamity.
  3. A sudden hard stroke or hit, as with the fist or an object.
visitation
A gathering of people in remembrance of a deceased person, especially in the presence of the body at a funeral home.
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  1. A gathering of people in remembrance of a deceased person, especially in the presence of the body at a funeral home.
  2. The provision made for a parent to spend time with a child who is in the physical custody of another.
  3. A calamitous event or experience; a grave misfortune:
ruin
Downfall, destruction, devastation, etc.
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  1. Downfall, destruction, devastation, etc.
  2. A person regarded as being physically, mentally, or morally a wreck of what he or she was
  3. Any cause of a person's downfall, destruction, etc.
reverse
A mechanism, etc. for reversing, as a gear arrangement in a transmission that causes a machine, motor vehicle, etc. to run backward or in the opposite direction
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  1. A mechanism, etc. for reversing, as a gear arrangement in a transmission that causes a machine, motor vehicle, etc. to run backward or in the opposite direction
  2. A change to an opposite position, condition, or direction.
  3. A change in fortune from better to worse; a setback:
emergency
A condition of urgent need for action or assistance:
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  1. A condition of urgent need for action or assistance:
  2. A sudden, generally unexpected occurrence or set of circumstances demanding immediate action
  3. A serious situation or occurrence that happens unexpectedly and demands immediate action.
scourge
Any cause of serious trouble or affliction
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  1. Any cause of serious trouble or affliction
  2. A small whip used to inflict punishment.
  3. Any means of inflicting severe punishment, suffering, or vengeance
cataclysm
A devastating flood.
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  1. A devastating flood.
  2. A violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change.
  3. A violent and sudden change in the earth's crust.
convulsion
A violent, involuntary contraction or spasm of the muscles
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  1. A violent, involuntary contraction or spasm of the muscles
  2. A violent fit of laughter
  3. Violent turmoil.
debacle
A violent flood.
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  1. A violent flood.
  2. A sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout.
  3. A total, often ludicrous, collapse or failure
tragedy
The writing, acting, or theoretical principles of this kind of drama
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  1. The writing, acting, or theoretical principles of this kind of drama
  2. A disastrous event, especially one involving distressing loss or injury to life:
  3. A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.
adversity
An instance of misfortune; calamity
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  1. An instance of misfortune; calamity
  2. A state of wretchedness or misfortune; poverty and trouble
  3. A calamitous event.
upheaval
The process of being heaved upward, especially the raising of part of the earth's crust
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  1. The process of being heaved upward, especially the raising of part of the earth's crust
  2. A sudden violent upset, disruption or convulsion
  3. A sudden, violent change
down
(Football) One of four consecutive plays in which a team, in order to keep possession of the ball, must either score or advance the ball at least ten yards
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  1. (Football) One of four consecutive plays in which a team, in order to keep possession of the ball, must either score or advance the ball at least ten yards
  2. A feeling of sadness or depression:
  3. A downward movement or depressed condition; defeat, misfortune, etc.
calamity
Deep trouble or misery
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  1. Deep trouble or misery
  2. Any extreme misfortune bringing great loss and sorrow; disaster
  3. An event that brings terrible loss, lasting distress, or severe affliction; a disaster:
cataclysm
A devastating flood.
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  1. A devastating flood.
  2. A violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change.
  3. A violent and sudden change in the earth's crust.
disaster
(Obsolete) An evil influence of a star or planet.
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  1. (Obsolete) An evil influence of a star or planet.
  2. A grave misfortune.
  3. An occurrence causing widespread destruction and distress; a catastrophe.
tragedy
A disastrous event, especially one involving distressing loss or injury to life:
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  1. A disastrous event, especially one involving distressing loss or injury to life:
  2. A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.
  3. A very sad or tragic event or sequence of events; disaster
Find another word for catastrophe. In this page you can discover 50 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for catastrophe, like: calamity, disaster, mishap, mischance, misadventure, failure, fiasco, misery, accident, trouble and casualty.

Sentence Examples

  • Things may drag on perhaps till July, but then a catastrophe must come."

  • The consequences of this catastrophe were felt far and wide, and in the spring of 1891 both the Banco Nacional and the Banco de la provincia de Buenos Aires were unable to meet their obligations.

  • The 32-year-old detective with bright red crew cut and opened-collar sports shirt looked as if nothing short of a catastrophe would cause him a lick of concern.

  • The catastrophe has been explained as a volcanic eruption, or an explosive outburst of gas and oil stored and accumulating at high pressure.

  • Every one felt that a catastrophe was approaching.

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Words that mention catastrophe in the Dictionary

Words near catastrophe in the Thesaurus