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

Few American novelists have ventured across so many registers of comedy and calamity.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It’s not the first calamity to befall the family in the West Bank.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They made a priority of trying to stop the calamity through a fair and well-intentioned treaty with the powerful, English-speaking Creek leader.

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But he looks generally solid and doesn't give the aura of some impending calamity when the ball gets near him.

Read more on BBC

But so does the episode’s device of using sculpture-like representations of Cleopatra and her coterie, their facial expressions reflecting whatever historical achievement, or calamity, is being recalled.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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