catastrophic

[ kat-uh-strof-ik ]
/ ˌkæt əˈstrɒf ɪk /

adjective

of the nature of a catastrophe, or disastrous event; calamitous: a catastrophic failure of the dam.
Sometimes cat·a·stroph·i·cal, ca·tas·tro·phal [kuh-tas-truh-fuh l] /kəˈtæs trə fəl/.

OTHER WORDS FROM catastrophic

Words nearby catastrophic

catastalsis, catastaltic, catastasis, catastrophe, catastrophe theory, catastrophic, catastrophic reaction, catastrophism, catastrophize, catatonia, catatonic

Definition for catastrophical (2 of 2)

catastrophe
[ kuh-tas-truh-fee ]
/ kəˈtæs trə fi /

noun

a sudden and widespread disaster: the catastrophe of war.
any misfortune, mishap, or failure; fiasco: The play was so poor our whole evening was a catastrophe.
a final event or conclusion, usually an unfortunate one; a disastrous end: the great catastrophe of the Old South at Appomattox.
(in a drama) the point at which the circumstances overcome the central motive, introducing the close or conclusion; dénouement. Compare catastasis, epitasis, protasis.
Geology. a sudden, violent disturbance, especially of a part of the surface of the earth; cataclysm.
Also called catastrophe function. Mathematics. any of the mathematical functions that describe the discontinuities that are treated in catastrophe theory.

Origin of catastrophe

1570–80; < Greek katastrophḗ an overturning, akin to katastréphein to overturn. See cata-, strophe

SYNONYMS FOR catastrophe

1 misfortune, calamity.

ANTONYMS FOR catastrophe

1, 3 triumph.

synonym study for catastrophe

1, 3. See disaster.

OTHER WORDS FROM catastrophe

cat·a·stroph·ic [kat-uh-strof-ik] /ˌkæt əˈstrɒf ɪk/, cat·a·stroph·i·cal, ca·tas·tro·phal, adjective su·per·ca·tas·tro·phe, noun

Example sentences from the Web for catastrophical

  • At seventeen such things are not embarrassing; they are catastrophical.

    Seventeen |Booth Tarkington

British Dictionary definitions for catastrophical

catastrophe
/ (kəˈtæstrəfɪ) /

noun

a sudden, extensive, or notable disaster or misfortune
the denouement of a play, esp a classical tragedy
a final decisive event, usually causing a disastrous end
Also called: cataclysm any sudden and violent change in the earth's surface caused by flooding, earthquake, or some other rapid process

Derived forms of catastrophe

catastrophic (ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk), adjective catastrophically, adverb

Word Origin for catastrophe

C16: from Greek katastrophē, from katastrephein to overturn, from strephein to turn