Catastrophe (Noun)
Meaning 1
An event resulting in great loss and misfortune; "the whole city was affected by the irremediable calamity"; "the earthquake was a disaster".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Examples
- The failure of the dam caused a catastrophe that displaced thousands of people.
- The city's economic decline was a slow-motion catastrophe that dragged on for decades.
- The devastating flood was a catastrophe for the local farming community.
- The earthquake and tsunami that hit the coast were a double catastrophe that claimed many lives.
- The malfunctioning spacecraft's re-entry was predicted to be a catastrophe that would cause widespread damage.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 2
A state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune; "lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system"; "his policies were a disaster".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 3
A sudden violent change in the earth's surface.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural phenomena.
Examples
- The earthquake that struck the city was a catastrophe that left thousands of people dead and injured.
- Scientists were caught off guard by the catastrophe that unfolded as the volcano erupted after being dormant for decades.
- The oil rig's explosion was a technological catastrophe that had severe environmental and economic consequences.
- As the floodwaters rose, residents were told to evacuate the area immediately to avoid being caught in the coming catastrophe.
- Historians documented the eruption of Mount Vesuvius as a catastrophic event that destroyed the ancient city of Pompeii.