catastrophic
ka-tuh-STRO-fihk
Catastrophic (adj) means Extremely harmful or disastrous, often on a scale from which recovery is difficult. Example: “The earthquake caused catastrophic damage to the city.”
adj
1
Extremely harmful or disastrous, often on a scale from which recovery is difficult.
"The earthquake caused catastrophic damage to the city."
"A single mistake could have catastrophic consequences."
"The flood had a catastrophic effect on farms across the whole valley."
How to use catastrophic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribing something so damaging it counts as a catastrophe.
Common pairings
catastrophic failure
catastrophic consequences
catastrophic damage
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more catastrophic
- Superlative
- most catastrophic
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The earthquake caused _____ damage to the city.
Etymology
From catastrophe plus the adjective suffix -ic.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “catastrophic” mean?
The word “catastrophic” means extremely harmful or disastrous, often on a scale from which recovery is difficult. In plain terms, describing something so damaging it counts as a catastrophe.
How do you pronounce “catastrophic”?
“Catastrophic” is pronounced ka-tuh-STRO-fihk (/ˌkætəˈstɹɑfɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “catastrophic” in a sentence?
Here is “catastrophic” used in a sentence: “The earthquake caused catastrophic damage to the city.”
What is another word for “catastrophic”?
Words with a similar meaning to “catastrophic” include catastrophal.
What is the opposite of “catastrophic”?
The opposite of “catastrophic” — its antonyms — is anastrophic.
What part of speech is “catastrophic”?
“Catastrophic” is an adjective.
Is “catastrophic” a common word?
“Catastrophic” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between catastrophic and catastrophal?
Catastrophic and catastrophal share the same meaning of extremely harmful or disastrous, but catastrophic is by far the more common and widely used form in modern English, while catastrophal is a rare variant.
When should catastrophic be used instead of serious or bad?
Catastrophic should be reserved for situations that are extremely harmful or disastrous, often on a scale from which recovery is difficult, rather than for everyday problems that are merely serious or unfortunate.
What are common collocations with catastrophic?
Catastrophic frequently appears in phrases like 'catastrophic failure,' 'catastrophic damage,' and 'catastrophic consequences,' all emphasizing extreme, hard-to-reverse harm.
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