Synonyms

catastrophic

American

[kat-uh-strof-ik] / ˌkæt əˈstrɒf ɪk /

Sometimes catastrophical,

adjective

of the nature of a catastrophe, or disastrous event; calamitous.

a catastrophic failure of the dam.

Other Word Forms

catastrophically adverb
noncatastrophic adjective
noncatastrophically adverb
supercatastrophic adjective
uncatastrophic adjective
uncatastrophically adverb

Etymology

Origin of catastrophic

First recorded in 1820–30; from Greek katastrophikós, equivalent to catastroph(e) ( def. ) + -ic ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In 2009, he told me, he worked on a graduate research project on exactly that chokepoint: how critical it was, how catastrophic its closure would be for the global economy.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

But premiums also cover catastrophic events like hospital stays after a car crash or cancer treatment.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

But economic research indicates catastrophic job loss like the kind Holland feared happens at an industry level, not as a broader, economy-wide effect.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

The country is still recovering from catastrophic floods and landslides in 2023.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

“And yet,” I said, “Isaac won’t so much as glance over at me. Too in love with Monica, I suppose,” which resulted in a catastrophic sob.

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023