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Definitions

disaster

[dih-zas-ter, -zah-ster] / dɪˈzæs tər, -ˈzɑ stər /
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 stroke undoing upset washout
WEAK
act of God bad luck bad news bad thing 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.

This can lead to disaster in a lot of families, as you are finding out.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

INDIANAPOLIS—When Dusty May took over as Michigan’s basketball coach in 2024, he was stepping into an abject disaster.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

A bundle of letters from a school in California, which were found a few years ago in an attic in Rhydyfelin near Pontypridd, show how the disaster touched people around the world.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Cliff Kuang and Robert Fabricant open their book User Friendly with the cautionary tale of the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

“I keep telling him all that disaster stuff is just part of the game, but he won’t believe me,” Cedar said.

From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.