calamity

[kuh-lam-i-tee]

noun

plural

calamities 

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

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

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

Ms. Morton astutely manages his mother’s way of trying to create calm out of calamity.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

But the wonderful Mr. Kirrane makes his character so repellent you just know he’s going to meet some kind of calamity.

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There is a way that these repetitive movements can ward off calamities, outfox deterioration, at least to a point.

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That said, there is a huge difference between a press staffer getting his jollies on social media and the assistant attorney general of the United States playing politics with personal calamity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Yet the ghost of Liz Truss lingers: despite their best efforts to politely disown her, the Conservatives' opponents will probably never lose their appetite for reminding voters of the calamity of her brief premiership.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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