calamity

[ kuh-lam-i-tee ]

noun

, plural ca·lam·i·ties.

1. a great misfortune or disaster, as a flood or serious injury.

   Synonyms: cataclysm, catastrophe, blow, reverse, mishap, mischance

2. grievous affliction; adversity; misery:

   the calamity of war.

calamity

/ kəˈlæmɪtɪ /

noun

1. a disaster or misfortune, esp one causing extreme havoc, distress, or misery
2. a state or feeling of deep distress or misery

Word History and Origins

Origin of calamity¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English calamite, from Middle French, from Latin calamitāt-, stem of calamitās (also kadamitas ) “crop failure, disaster,” of disputed origin; often considered to be derived from calam(us) “cane, reed” + -itās -ity ( def ), but perhaps instead akin to columus “safe,” incolumitās “safety”

Word History and Origins

Origin of calamity¹

C15: from French calamité, from Latin calamitās; related to Latin incolumis uninjured

Synonym Study

See disaster.

Example Sentences

“If it weren’t for a pandemic and potential economic calamity, we could really get excited,” Barton, Zillow’s chief executive, said on the company’s last earnings call.

From Fortune

Many are ginning up new business models and adopting new technologies that will, they hope, make their businesses more resilient to future calamities—assuming they survive this one.

From Fortune

A possible figure of some fun for nonbelievers pre-2020, Rawles’ stature and standing now, post every single calamity that’s struck this year, is damned near mythical, and it’s harder to get ahold of him than your average celebrity.

From Ozy

Tesla’s stock decline also coincides with major reversal in the Dow Jones and Nasdaq indices, which had been on a tear this year despite the economic calamity caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

From Fortune

Likewise Nick Goulette, executive director of the Watershed Research and Training Center, has seen too little movement for too long to believe anything but utter calamity can get us back on track.

From ProPublica

Calamity,” Roth writes elsewhere, “when it comes, comes in a rush.

From The Daily Beast

Corruption, suspicion, and a lack of doctors all add up to a growing calamity in Freetown.

From The Daily Beast

Opposingly, White believed it would take cathartic calamity to trigger meaningful change.

From The Daily Beast

These facts cast a new nightmarish tint to an already overwhelming public health calamity.

From The Daily Beast

This weekend these war memories now flow into another historical calamity, the outbreak of World War I, 100 years ago.

From The Daily Beast

She waited for no further formalities, but shaken with the sure foreboding of calamity, turned and fled the room.

From Project Gutenberg

Ethel's understanding perceived, but her mind refused to grasp the extent of the calamity.

From Project Gutenberg

The destruction of Moab is near to come: the calamity thereof shall come on exceeding swiftly.

From Project Gutenberg

I became keenly aware of the dreadful psychic calamity it involved.

From Project Gutenberg

Owing to their strange appearance, comets were to the ancients omens of calamity.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adversity
• cataclysm
• catastrophe
• collapse
• hardship
• misfortune
• mishap
• scourge
• woe