calamitous
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of calamitous
First recorded in 1535–45; calamit(y) + -ous
Explanation
A calamitous event is one that leads to a catastrophe — like the calamitous crashing of your parents' car into the garage door. Calamitous is an adjective that is generally used to describe events, and these events are disastrous or destructive. A failed election can be a calamitous event for a politician, especially if he loses by a landslide. Ever heard of Calamity Jane? She was known for her wild, calamitous behavior in the Wild West during the 19th century. Steer clear of anyone with a name like Calamity.
Vocabulary lists containing calamitous
"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 8–13
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
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President Trump's Second State of the Union Address (2019)
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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.
Scotland's hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time are in significant peril with calamitous defending allowed Brazil to win 3-0 in Miami and finish top of Group C.
From BBC • Jun. 25, 2026
Zubrin linked Musk's potential for failure to French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte's calamitous campaign in Russia.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
Barring injury or a calamitous upset, Sinner and his suspense-draining form now have a wide-open runway to his fifth major title, which would put him ahead of Djokovic or Roger Federer at the same age.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
“Malcolm in the Middle,” a popular series about a tightly knit calamitous family of weirdos and the relatively less weird child at its center, is back after 20 years.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Our parents had decided to put an end to their calamitous marriage, and Father shipped us home to his mother.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
