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.

See Examples For:

disasters

They could be used by the military, for remote communities or following natural disasters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

The Boxing Day tragedy was one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

"I have responded to many disasters in the past, but I have never experienced a case like this."

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

Big Sur has faced a relentless cycle of natural disasters over the past decade including destructive wildfires, mudflows, rockslides and coastal erosion that threatens its steep and fragile landscape and has isolated the iconic destination.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

If there was a silver lining, it was that the earthquake brought new funding and world attention to a country that had suffered in obscurity through too many natural, political, and health disasters.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French