Catastrophe — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /kə-ˈta-strə-(ˌ)fē/ ca·tas·tro·phe

Meaning & Definition of Catastrophe

Catastrophe (noun)

  1. a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin
  2. utter failure, fiasco
  3. a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth

Catastrophe (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "more than one natural catastrophe has threatened to destroy their farm over the years"

    similar: apocalypse, calamity, cataclysm, 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

  2. something that has failed

    "the movie was a catastrophe, nearly bankrupting the studio that produced it"

    similar: bomb, bummer, bust, clinker, clunker, debacle, disaster, dud, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, frost, lemon, loser, miss, shipwreck, turkey, washout
    related: also-ran, disappointment, dog, has-been, near miss, botch, hash, mess, muddle, shambles, nonevent, nonstarter
    opposite: blockbuster, hit, smash, success, winner
    near: corker, crackerjack, dandy, jim-dandy, phenomenon

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Catastrophe

The most common words with a similar meaning to Catastrophe:

apocalypse, calamity, cataclysm, debacle, disaster, tragedy, bomb, bummer, bust, clinker, clunker, dud, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, frost, lemon, loser, miss, shipwreck, turkey, washout

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Catastrophe

Words with the opposite meaning of Catastrophe:

blockbuster, hit, smash, success, winner

Related Words for Catastrophe

bloodbath, collapse, crash, meltdown, Armageddon, doomsday, end-time, convulsion, paroxysm, upheaval, accident, casualty, fatality, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, blast, blow, double whammy, one-two, also-ran, disappointment, dog, has-been, near miss, botch, hash, mess, muddle

Near Antonyms of Catastrophe

godsend, manna, windfall, corker, crackerjack, dandy, jim-dandy, phenomenon

Word Forms of Catastrophe

Inflections: catastrophes

Derived words: catastrophic (adjective), catastrophically (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Catastrophe

Greek katastrophē, from katastrephein to overturn, from kata- + strephein to turn

First known use: 1540

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Catastrophe

Words & Phrases Containing Catastrophe

catastrophe theory

Frequently Asked Questions about Catastrophe

What does "Catastrophe" mean?

"Catastrophe" means a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin. As a noun, it is defined as: a momentous tragic event ranging from extreme misfortune to utter overthrow or ruin. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Catastrophe"?

Other words for "Catastrophe" include apocalypse, calamity, cataclysm, debacle, disaster, tragedy, bomb and bummer. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Catastrophe" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Catastrophe"?

There are 56 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Catastrophe". Common alternatives include apocalypse, calamity, cataclysm, debacle, disaster, tragedy, bomb, bummer, bust and clinker.

What is the opposite of "Catastrophe"?

Antonyms of "Catastrophe" include blockbuster, hit, smash, success and winner. Near antonyms include godsend, manna, windfall and corker.

How do you use "Catastrophe" in a sentence?

Examples of "Catastrophe" in a sentence: "more than one natural catastrophe has threatened to destroy their farm over the years"; "the movie was a catastrophe, nearly bankrupting the studio that produced it".

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

"Catastrophe" is a noun.

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

As a C2-level word, "Catastrophe" 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 "Catastrophe"?

"Catastrophe" is pronounced /kə-ˈta-strə-(ˌ)fē/ and divided into syllables as ca·tas·tro·phe.