disastrous
dih-ZAH-struhs
Disastrous (adj) means causing great damage or harm; having the nature of a disaster. Example: “The company's disastrous decision led to massive layoffs.”
adj
1
Causing great damage or harm; having the nature of a disaster.
"The company's disastrous decision led to massive layoffs."
"The trip ended in disastrous fashion when the car broke down."
"The flood had disastrous effects on the farms along the river."
How to use disastrous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something that has gone, or will go, extremely badly.
Common pairings
disastrous consequences
disastrous decision
prove disastrous
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more disastrous
- Superlative
- most disastrous
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The company's _____ decision led to massive layoffs.
Etymology
From disaster + -ous, echoing French desastreux and ultimately Italian disastroso.
Synonyms
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dire
dreadful
calamitous outcome
tragic
apocalyptic
calamitous
cataclysmal
cataclysmic
catastrophic
deadly
debacular
devastating
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for disastrous
See all rhymes for disastrous →Frequently asked questions
What does “disastrous” mean?
The word “disastrous” means causing great damage or harm; having the nature of a disaster. In plain terms, describes something that has gone, or will go, extremely badly.
How do you pronounce “disastrous”?
“Disastrous” is pronounced dih-ZAH-struhs (/dɪˈzæs.tɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “disastrous” in a sentence?
Here is “disastrous” used in a sentence: “The company's disastrous decision led to massive layoffs.”
What is another word for “disastrous”?
Words with a similar meaning to “disastrous” include apocalyptic, calamitous, cataclysmal, cataclysmic, catastrophic and deadly.
What part of speech is “disastrous”?
“Disastrous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “disastrous” come from?
The word “disastrous” comes from French. From disaster + -ous, echoing French desastreux and ultimately Italian disastroso.
Is “disastrous” a common word?
“Disastrous” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between disastrous and unfortunate?
Disastrous describes something causing great damage or harm, on the scale of a disaster, while unfortunate simply means unlucky or regrettable without necessarily implying serious destruction. A disastrous fire destroys property, whereas an unfortunate delay merely causes inconvenience.
Can disastrous be used for outcomes that are not physically destructive?
Yes, disastrous is often used figuratively for outcomes such as a disastrous decision, a disastrous performance, or a disastrous meeting, where the harm is to reputation, results, or relationships rather than physical property. This figurative use is extremely common in everyday and business English.
What nouns most commonly follow disastrous?
Disastrous frequently pairs with nouns like consequences, results, effects, decision, and outcome, reflecting its meaning of causing great harm. These collocations appear often in news writing and formal commentary about failures or mistakes.
