Another word for catastrophe
a-z
Noun
An occurrence inflicting widespread destruction and distress
- 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.
- The genre made up of such works.
- The art or theory of writing or producing these works.
- An occurrence causing widespread destruction and distress; a catastrophe.
- A grave misfortune.
- A total failure:
- A violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change.
- A violent and sudden change in the earth's crust.
- A devastating flood.
- An event that brings terrible loss, lasting distress, or severe affliction; a disaster:
- Dire distress resulting from loss or tragedy.
See also:
© Roget’s II: The New Thesaurus Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Another word for catastrophe
Noun
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- From a higher to a lower place or position:
- Toward, to, or on the ground, floor, or bottom:
- Downstairs:
- The process of being heaved upward.
- An instance of being so heaved.
- A sudden, violent disruption or upset:
- (uncountable) Misfortune.
- A state of hardship or affliction; misfortune.
- A calamitous event.
- 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.
- The genre made up of such works.
- The art or theory of writing or producing these works.
- A sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout.
- A total, often ludicrous failure.
- The breaking up of ice in a river.
- An intense, paroxysmal, involuntary muscular contraction.
- An uncontrolled fit, as of laughter; a paroxysm.
- Violent turmoil:
- A violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change.
- A violent and sudden change in the earth's crust.
- A devastating flood.
- A source of widespread dreadful affliction and devastation such as that caused by pestilence or war.
- A means of inflicting severe suffering, vengeance, or punishment.
- A small whip used to inflict punishment.
- A serious situation or occurrence that happens unexpectedly and demands immediate action.
- A condition of urgent need for action or assistance:
- For use during emergencies:
- Turned backward in position, direction, or order:
- Moving, acting, or organized in a manner contrary to the usual:
- Causing backward movement:
- The state of being physically destroyed, collapsed, or decayed:
- The state of being extensively harmed or damaged:
- Poverty of bankruptcy:
- The action or an instance of visiting or an instance of being visited:
- An official visit for the purpose of inspection or examination, as of a bishop to a diocese.
- The provision made for a parent to spend time with a child who is in the physical custody of another.
- A sudden hard stroke or hit, as with the fist or an object.
- An unexpected shock or calamity.
- An unexpected attack; an assault.
- The condition of lacking necessities or comforts; privation or suffering.
- A thing or circumstance that causes ongoing or persistent suffering or difficulty:
- A fall or slide of a large mass of material, especially of snow, down a mountainside.
- A massive or overwhelming amount; a flood:
- To fall or slide in a massive or overwhelming amount.
- The act or an instance of desolating.
- The state of being desolate.
- Devastation; ruin:
- a devastating or being devastated; destruction; desolation
- To break violently or noisily; smash:
- To undergo sudden damage or destruction on impact:
- To make a sudden loud noise:
- Deep mental anguish, as that arising from bereavement, or an instance of this.
- A source or cause of deep mental anguish:
- Annoyance or frustration, or an instance of this:
- A death resulting from an accident or disaster:
- One who is killed as a result of such an occurrence:
- The ability to cause death or disaster.
- The act of destroying or the state of being destroyed; destruction:
- Accidental destruction of a ship; a shipwreck.
- The stranded hulk of a severely damaged ship.
- To bring heavy destruction on; devastate:
- To pillage; sack:
- To wreak destruction.
- Widespread destruction; devastation.
- Disorder or chaos:
- To destroy or pillage.
- The act or an instance of striking, as with the hand, a weapon, or a tool; a blow or impact.
- The striking of a bell or gong.
- The sound so produced.
- An unforeseen event that disrupts the normal course of things; an inopportune occurrence.
- An argument or dispute:
- A condition of pain, suffering, or distress:
- A cause of pain, suffering, or distress:
- The act or process of imposing or meting out something unpleasant.
- Something, such as punishment, that is inflicted.
- Bad fortune or ill luck.
- The condition resulting from bad fortune or ill luck:
- A distressing occurrence:
- An accident, especially one involving serious injury or loss of life.
- One who is injured or killed in an accident:
- One who is injured, killed, captured, or missing in action through engagement with an enemy:
- A state of distress, affliction, difficulty, or need:
- A distressing or difficult circumstance or situation:
- A cause or source of distress, disturbance, or difficulty:
- An unexpected and undesirable event, especially one resulting in damage or harm:
- An unforeseen event that is not the result of intention or has no apparent cause:
- An instance of involuntary urination or defecation.
- The state of suffering and want as a result of physical circumstances or extreme poverty.
- Mental or emotional unhappiness or distress:
- A cause or source of suffering:
- A complete failure.
- The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends:
- One that fails:
- The condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short:
- An instance of misfortune; a mishap.
- An unfortunate occurrence; a mishap.
- Bad luck.
- An unfortunate accident.
- Bad luck.
- An event that brings terrible loss, lasting distress, or severe affliction; a disaster:
- Dire distress resulting from loss or tragedy.
- An occurrence causing widespread destruction and distress; a catastrophe.
- A grave misfortune.
- A total failure:
© WEBSTER’S NEW WORLD® ROGET’S A-Z THESAURUS by Charlton Laird and the editors of Webster’s New World dictionaries. Copyright © 1999 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.