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Definition of disaster

disaster

/dɪˈzæs.tɚ/
di · sas · ter
Adverb:disastrously
•
Plural:disasters
•
Adjective:disastrous
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disaster Lexical Profile

disaster Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A sudden accident or a natural catastrophe that causes great damage, destruction, or loss of life.

Example

"Emergency crews worked through the night to provide relief after the flooding became a regional disaster."

2

An event, project, or situation that turns out to be a complete failure.

Example

"Without proper rehearsal and sound equipment, the opening night performance was an absolute disaster."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for disaster

• Nearby Words

disassembly
disassociate
disassociation
disaster
disastrous
disastrously
disavow

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 16th century from Middle French 'désastre', from Italian 'disastro', combining the pejorative prefix 'dis-' with 'astro' (from Latin 'astrum' and Ancient Greek 'astron', meaning 'star'). The word originally reflected the astrological belief that calamities were caused by an unfavorable alignment of the stars.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Disaster. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/disaster
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