disastrous

[ dih-zas-truhs, -zah-struhs ]

adjective

1. causing great distress or injury; ruinous; very unfortunate; calamitous:

   The rain and cold proved disastrous to his health.

2. Archaic. foreboding disaster.

Other Words From

• dis·astrous·ly adverb
• dis·astrous·ness noun
• nondis·astrous adjective
• nondis·astrous·ly adverb
• nondis·astrous·ness noun
• predis·astrous adjective
• predis·astrous·ly adverb
• quasi-dis·astrous adjective
• quasi-dis·astrous·ly adverb
• undis·astrous adjective
• undis·astrous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of disastrous¹

1580–90; < Middle French desastreux, Italian disastroso. See disaster, -ous

Related Words

• adverse
• calamitous
• cataclysmic
• catastrophic
• destructive
• dire
• dreadful
• fatal
• fateful
• harmful
• ill-fated
• ruinous
• terrible
• tragic
• unfavorable
• unfortunate