Calamity — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /kə-ˈla-mə-tē/ ca·lam·i·ty

Meaning & Definition of Calamity

Calamity (noun)

  1. a disastrous event marked by great loss and lasting distress and suffering
  2. a state of deep distress or misery caused by major misfortune or loss

Calamity (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction

    "this latest breakdown of the car is inconvenient, but not a calamity"

    similar: apocalypse, cataclysm, catastrophe, debacle, disaster, tragedy
    related: bloodbath, collapse, crash, meltdown, Armageddon, doomsday, end-time, convulsion, paroxysm, upheaval, accident, casualty, fatality, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, blast, blow, double whammy, one-two
    near: godsend, manna, windfall

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Calamity

The most common words with a similar meaning to Calamity:

apocalypse, cataclysm, catastrophe, debacle, disaster, tragedy

Related Words for Calamity

bloodbath, collapse, crash, meltdown, Armageddon, doomsday, end-time, convulsion, paroxysm, upheaval, accident, casualty, fatality, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, blast, blow, double whammy, one-two

Near Antonyms of Calamity

godsend, manna, windfall

Word Forms of Calamity

Inflections: calamities

Origin & Etymology of Calamity

Middle English calamytey, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French calamité, borrowed from Latin calamitāt-, calamitās "disaster, misfortune, military defeat," going back to an unattested adjective *calamo- or *calami-, presumably, "injured, affected by misfortune or defeat" + -tāt-, -tās -TY; *calamo-/*calami- perhaps going back to Indo-European *kl̥h2-em-o/i-, adjective derivative from a verbal base *kelh2- "hit, strike" clastic

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Calamity

Frequently Asked Questions about Calamity

What does "Calamity" mean?

"Calamity" means a disastrous event marked by great loss and lasting distress and suffering. As a noun, it is defined as: a disastrous event marked by great loss and lasting distress and suffering.

What is another word for "Calamity"?

Other words for "Calamity" include apocalypse, cataclysm, catastrophe, debacle, disaster and tragedy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Calamity" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Calamity"?

There are 27 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Calamity". Common alternatives include apocalypse, cataclysm, catastrophe, debacle, disaster and tragedy.

How do you use "Calamity" in a sentence?

Examples of "Calamity" in a sentence: "this latest breakdown of the car is inconvenient, but not a calamity".

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

"Calamity" is a noun.

Is "Calamity" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Calamity" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Calamity"?

"Calamity" is pronounced /kə-ˈla-mə-tē/ and divided into syllables as ca·lam·i·ty.

What is the origin of the word "Calamity"?

"Calamity" comes from Middle English calamytey, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French calamité, borrowed from Latin calamitāt-, calamitās "disaster, misfortune, military defeat," going back to an unattested adjective *calamo- or *calami-, presumably, "injured, affected by misfortune or defeat" + -tāt-, -tās -TY; *calamo-/*calami- perhaps going back to Indo-European *kl̥h2-em-o/i-, adjective derivative from a verbal base *kelh2- "hit, strike" clastic. First known use: 15th century.