Definitions

disaster

[dih-zas-ter, -zah-ster] / dɪˈzæs tər, -ˈzɑ stər /

NOUN

accident, trouble

Synonyms

STRONGEST

calamity catastrophe collapse crash debacle defeat emergency failure fiasco flood harm hazard holocaust mishap setback tragedy woe

STRONG

adversity affliction bale bane blight blow bust casualty cataclysm collision depression exigency fall flop grief misadventure mischance misfortune reverse rock rough ruin ruination stroke undoing upset washout

WEAK

act of God bad luck bad news bad thing fell stroke hard luck hot water ill luck the worst

Antonyms

STRONGEST

achievement advantage attainment benefit blessing boon good fortune good luck happiness joy miracle success victory win wonder

STRONG

aid building creation encouragement fortune health help prosperity triumph

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.

At lunch, I spoke to Jillian Rooney of the Crop Disaster Recovery group, which had a tent set up in the parking lot.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

Mozart Maxon, then a consultant for India’s National Disaster Management Authority, was awed when he saw the lake for the first time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

This autumn, Germany's Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance warned for the first time since the Cold War that war is no longer "unlikely".

From BBC • Feb. 16, 2026

The teenagers huddled around the table leap into action, shouting instructions and acting out the correct strategies for just one of the potential catastrophes laid out in the board game called Master of Disaster.

From Barron's • Dec. 29, 2025

Making a boat is easy, little Disaster, said Crocodile Guts from his bench at the bottom of the lake.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

Vocabulary lists containing disaster

Did You Planet? Words With Surprisingly Spacey Origins

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Oh, My Stars! A Solstice Sampler

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Calamity, Catastrophe, and Crisis: Disaster Words

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!