disastrous

[ dih-zas-truh s, -zah-struh s ]

/ dɪˈzæs trəs, -ˈzɑ strəs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR disastrous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

causing great distress or injury; ruinous; very unfortunate; calamitous: The rain and cold proved disastrous to his health.

Archaic. foreboding disaster.

Nearby words

disassociate, disassortative mating, disaster, disaster area, disaster capitalism, disastrous, disavow, disavowal, disband, disbar, disbelief

Origin of disastrous

1580–90; < Middle French desastreux, Italian disastroso. See disaster, -ous

Related forms

dis·as·trous·ly, adverbdis·as·trous·ness, nounnon·dis·as·trous, adjectivenon·dis·as·trous·ly, adverb

non·dis·as·trous·ness, nounpre·dis·as·trous, adjectivepre·dis·as·trous·ly, adverbqua·si-dis·as·trous, adjectivequa·si-dis·as·trous·ly, adverbun·dis·as·trous, adjectiveun·dis·as·trous·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for disastrous

He knew that a public appearance with Duke could be disastrous.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At any moment, the slightest loss in concentration could see a disastrous tumble.
How the Circus Got a Social Conscience|Justin Jones|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Ebola pandemic in West Africa is having a disastrous effect on tourism on the whole continent.
Ebola Could Deal a Death Blow to Africa’s Wildlife|Brandon Presser|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the consequences of a filing would have been disastrous.
Remember the $182 Billion AIG Bailout? It Just Wasn’t Generous Enough|Daniel Gross|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Another memorable, if not disastrous, misstep, of course, was his turn as Batman in Batman and Robin.
Clooney: A Constant Charmer at the Altar|Tim Teeman|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fortunately they were all removed previous to the disastrous fire of Jan. 11, 1879.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
But the keeping of the secret, which did not last long, was nevertheless fraught with disastrous consequences for my future.
The Memoirs of Madame Vige Lebrun|Marie Louise Elisabeth Vige-Lebrun
For this time Pitt's political wisdom had saved England from a disastrous breach with her colonies.
A History of England, Period III.|Rev. J. Franck Bright
In the din of arms, his command was not understood, and the consequence was the disastrous result we have named.
Great Events in the History of North and South America|Charles A. Goodrich
Had they succeeded, the result might have been disastrous to the whole Canadian line and involved others.
The Story of the Great War, Volume VIII (of VIII)|various

Word Origin and History for disastrous

disastrous

adj.

1580s, "ill-starred," from French désastreux (16c.), from désastre (see disaster) or from Italian desastroso. Meaning "calamitous" is from c.1600. Related: Disastrously.

disastrous

adjective

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Origin of disastrous

Examples from the Web for disastrous

Word Origin and History for disastrous

disastrous