calamitous

[kuh-lam-i-tuhs]

adjective

1. causing or involving calamity; disastrous.

   a calamitous defeat.

   Synonyms: devastating, ruinous, catastrophic
   Antonyms: advantageous, beneficial

calamitous

/ kəˈlæmɪtəs /

adjective

1. causing, involving, or resulting in a calamity; disastrous

Other Word Forms

• calamitously adverb
• calamitousness noun
• uncalamitous adjective
• uncalamitously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of calamitous¹

First recorded in 1535–45; calamit(y) + -ous

Example Sentences

Their problems on the square continued with the calamitous run out of Gill, who at times in the series has seemed immovable.

From BBC

“This is one of the most calamitous and devastating bills of our lifetime.”

From Los Angeles Times

But behind a sharp war of words lie urgent calculations to avoid calamitous miscalculation.

From BBC

"It was a range of calamitous events, one after the other," he said.

From BBC

His calamitous live TV debate performance last June prompted further questions, as Biden stumbled over his words, lost his thread mid-sentence and boasted, somewhat bafflingly, that "We finally beat Medicare!"

From BBC

Related Words

• adverse 
• cataclysmic 
• catastrophic 
• deadly 
• devastating 
• dire 
• fatal 
• grievous 
• heartbreaking 
• lamentable 
• pernicious 
• regrettable 
• ruinous 
• unfavorable 
• unfortunate 
• woeful