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.
“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
New plan: Pretend to be from the future and insist that the only way to avoid a calamitous chain of events is if Nirvanna plays a show at the Rivoli.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026
The shift is most enduring and consequential across Europe, where the trans-Atlantic partnership that kept the peace after two calamitous world wars is at risk of unraveling.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026
Nevertheless, the upturn in performances and results since Nancy's calamitous tenure has been stark, and that is without key starters Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota.
From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026
I was such a calamitous whirlwind of stupidity!
From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith
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.
