Synonyms

catastrophic

American

[kat-uh-strof-ik] / ˌkæt əˈstrɒf ɪk /

Sometimes catastrophical,

adjective

of the nature of a catastrophe, or disastrous event; calamitous.

a catastrophic failure of the dam.

Other Word Forms

catastrophically adverb
noncatastrophic adjective
noncatastrophically adverb
supercatastrophic adjective
uncatastrophic adjective
uncatastrophically adverb

Etymology

Origin of catastrophic

First recorded in 1820–30; from Greek katastrophikós, equivalent to catastroph(e) ( def. ) + -ic ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Alexandra Saieh, Head of Humanitarian Policy and Advocacy, says the more obstacles in place, the further it impedes the ability to offer effective humanitarian assistance and causes "a catastrophic impact on people in Gaza."

From BBC

Many Iranians fear that a collapse of the talks could trigger catastrophic consequences.

From BBC

When the hearing resumed, what followed was, by all accounts, a catastrophic embarrassment for the committee — one entirely of its own making.

From Salon

He echoed conservationists' concerns that "a single major event could be catastrophic".

From BBC

"Greater and sustained international support is urgently needed now to prevent the situation from worsening into an even more catastrophic crisis," says its Yemen country director, Farran Puig.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023