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

Example Sentences

At UCLA, where he revived a struggling defense in a single season, his departure was viewed as a disastrous setback, only made worse by the destination.

From Los Angeles Times

To Ahmed, who is pursuing his studies in flood evacuation preparedness, this model is only one tool he hopes authorities can use ahead of disastrous flooding.

From Science Daily

Farming unions have said the planned changes will have "disastrous" consequences.

From BBC

In the wake of Trump's disastrous win, it's welcome news that he's focusing his love of chaos and division directly on his own caucus.

From Salon

The National Farmers Union has called it "disastrous" for family farms, saying it would see farmers forced to sell land to pay the tax.

From BBC

Related Words

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