disasters

NOUN

accident, trouble

Synonyms

STRONGEST

calamity catastrophe collapse crash debacle defeat emergency failure fiasco flood harm hazard holocaust mishap setback tragedy woe

STRONG

adversity affliction bale bane blight blow bust casualty cataclysm collision depression exigency fall flop grief misadventure mischance misfortune reverse rock rough ruin ruination slip stroke undoing upset washout

WEAK

act of God bad luck bad news fell stroke hard luck hot water ill luck the worst

Antonyms

STRONGEST

achievement advantage attainment benefit blessing boon good fortune good luck happiness joy miracle success victory win wonder

STRONG

aid building creation encouragement fortune health help prosperity triumph

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.

The southern African country has already faced devastating flooding from seasonal rainfall, with nearly 140 lives lost since October 1, according to the National Disasters Management Institute.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

Disasters like rockfalls, landslides, glacial lakes bursting out and devastating debris flows are already becoming more common.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2026

Juliette Kayyem is a national security expert, Harvard lecturer, CNN analyst, Atlantic contributor, and author of ‘The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters.’

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2024

Disasters, elections, wars and even the outcomes of sporting events can shake our perspective, and make us look for explanations.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 31, 2024

But Kat-astrophe, Kat-aclysm, Kat-alogue of Disasters, my mean, mad sister, wasn’t going to leave me behind, not when so much was at stake.

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd