Disaster — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /di-ˈza-stər/ di·sas·ter

Meaning & Definition of Disaster

Disaster (noun)

  1. a sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, or destruction
  2. someone or something that is very bad
  3. someone or something that is extremely unsuccessful

Disaster (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "hurricanes are natural disasters"

    similar: apocalypse, calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, debacle, 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

    "an utter disaster, the play opened and closed on the same miserable night"

    similar: bomb, bummer, bust, catastrophe, clinker, clunker, debacle, 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 Disaster

The most common words with a similar meaning to Disaster:

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

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Disaster

Words with the opposite meaning of Disaster:

blockbuster, hit, smash, success, winner

Related Words for Disaster

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 Disaster

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

Word Forms of Disaster

Inflections: disasters

Origin & Etymology of Disaster

borrowed from Middle French & Italian; Middle French desastre, borrowed from Italian disastro, from dis- dis- + astro "heavenly body," borrowed from Latin astrum astral

First known use: 1567

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Disaster

Words & Phrases Containing Disaster

disaster area, disaster relief, disaster strikes, court disaster, natural disaster

Frequently Asked Questions about Disaster

What does "Disaster" mean?

"Disaster" means a sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, or destruction. As a noun, it is defined as: a sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, or destruction. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Disaster"?

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

What are different ways to say "Disaster"?

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

What is the opposite of "Disaster"?

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

How do you use "Disaster" in a sentence?

Examples of "Disaster" in a sentence: "hurricanes are natural disasters"; "an utter disaster, the play opened and closed on the same miserable night".

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

"Disaster" is a noun.

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

As an A2-level word, "Disaster" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Disaster"?

"Disaster" is pronounced /di-ˈza-stər/ and divided into syllables as di·sas·ter.