calamitous

[ kuh-lam-i-tuhs ]

adjective

1. causing or involving calamity; disastrous:

   a calamitous defeat.

   Synonyms: catastrophic, devastating, ruinous

   Antonyms: advantageous, beneficial

calamitous

/ kəˈlæmɪtəs /

adjective

1. causing, involving, or resulting in a calamity; disastrous

Derived Forms

• caˈlamitously, adverb
• caˈlamitousness, noun

Other Word Forms

• ca·lami·tous·ly adverb
• ca·lami·tous·ness noun
• unca·lami·tous adjective
• unca·lami·tous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of calamitous¹

First recorded in 1535–45; calamit(y) + -ous

Example Sentences

In 1991’s “The Doors,” Oliver Stone pushed the boundaries of a music biopic to make a calamitous, imperfect work that could accurately reflect the spectacle that was Jim Morrison’s life.

From Salon

"Is it calamitous blunders tripping them up or was it just they were so blasé they wouldn't get caught?"

From BBC

That demolition came at the end of a winter where England suffered a calamitous early exit at the T20 World Cup.

From BBC

An unnamed UAE official said that "the allegations presented by the SAF representative at the ICJ lack any legal or factual basis, representing yet another attempt to distract from this calamitous war".

From BBC

The fallout from the Friday debacle could be calamitous.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adverse
• cataclysmic
• catastrophic
• deadly
• devastating
• dire
• fatal
• grievous
• heartbreaking
• lamentable
• pernicious
• regrettable
• ruinous
• unfavorable
• unfortunate
• woeful