Calamitous — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /kə-ˈla-mə-təs/ ca·lam·i·tous

Meaning & Definition of Calamitous

Calamitous (adjective)

  1. being, causing, or accompanied by calamity

Calamitous (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. bringing about ruin or misfortune

    "a calamitous decision to sell their products online exclusively ruined the business"

    similar: cataclysmal, catastrophic, damning, destructive, disastrous, fatal, fateful, ruinous, unfortunate
    related: apocalyptic, hapless, ill-fated, ill-starred, luckless, adverse, baleful, baneful, damaging, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial
    near: fluky, fortuitous, fortunate, happy, lucky, providential, auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, hopeful, optimistic, promising, propitious, rose-colored, rosy, upbeat

  2. causing or tending to cause destruction

    "a calamitous flood that destroyed the town's central business district"

    similar: annihilatory, cataclysmal, destructive, devastating, devastative, disastrous, ruinous
    related: antibiotic, biocidal, baleful, deadly, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, lethal, mortal, murderous, pestilent, poisonous, virulent, vital, deleterious, detrimental, harmful, pernicious
    opposite: nondestructive
    near: preservative, protective, constructive, creative, formative, productive, harmless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, ameliorative, helpful, useful, healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, salubrious, wholesome

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Calamitous

The most common words with a similar meaning to Calamitous:

cataclysmal, catastrophic, damning, destructive, disastrous, fatal, fateful, ruinous, unfortunate, annihilatory, devastating, devastative

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Calamitous

Words with the opposite meaning of Calamitous:

nondestructive

Related Words for Calamitous

apocalyptic, hapless, ill-fated, ill-starred, luckless, adverse, baleful, baneful, damaging, deleterious, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, antibiotic, biocidal, deadly, deathly, fell, killer, lethal, mortal, murderous, pestilent, poisonous

Near Antonyms of Calamitous

fluky, fortuitous, fortunate, happy, lucky, providential, auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, hopeful, optimistic, promising, propitious, rose-colored, rosy, upbeat, preservative, protective, constructive, creative, formative, productive, harmless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, ameliorative

Word Forms of Calamitous

Derived words: calamitously (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Calamitous

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French calamiteux "suffering misfortune, miserable," borrowed from Latin calamitōsus "liable to damage or disaster, afflicted by disaster, ill-starred, involving damage or disaster, ruinous," by haplology from *calamitātōsus, from calamitāt-, calamitās "disaster, misfortune, calamity" + -ōsus -ous

First known use: 1545

Frequently Asked Questions about Calamitous

What does "Calamitous" mean?

"Calamitous" means being, causing, or accompanied by calamity. As an adjective, it is defined as: being, causing, or accompanied by calamity. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Calamitous"?

Other words for "Calamitous" include cataclysmal, catastrophic, damning, destructive, disastrous, fatal, fateful and ruinous. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Calamitous" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Calamitous"?

There are 44 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Calamitous". Common alternatives include cataclysmal, catastrophic, damning, destructive, disastrous, fatal, fateful, ruinous, unfortunate and annihilatory.

What is the opposite of "Calamitous"?

Antonyms of "Calamitous" include nondestructive. Near antonyms include fluky, fortuitous, fortunate and happy.

How do you use "Calamitous" in a sentence?

Examples of "Calamitous" in a sentence: "a calamitous decision to sell their products online exclusively ruined the business"; "a calamitous flood that destroyed the town's central business district".

Is "Calamitous" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Calamitous" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Calamitous"?

"Calamitous" is pronounced /kə-ˈla-mə-təs/ and divided into syllables as ca·lam·i·tous.

What is the origin of the word "Calamitous"?

"Calamitous" comes from borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French calamiteux "suffering misfortune, miserable," borrowed from Latin calamitōsus "liable to damage or disaster, afflicted by disaster, ill-starred, involving damage or disaster, ruinous," by haplology from *calamitātōsus, from calamitāt-, calamitās "disaster, misfortune, calamity" + -ōsus -ous. First known use: 1545.