disaster — English Dictionary

Noun

1. An unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or sometimes permanent change to the natural environment.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   People would suffer disasters when society's morality degenerates.

   More examples (1)

   Floods in northern India, mostly in the small state of Uttarakhand, have wrought disaster on an enormous scale. The early, intense onset of the monsoon on June 14th swelled rivers, washing away roads, bridges, hotels and even whole villages. Rock-filled torrents smashed vehicles and homes, burying victims under rubble and sludge.

2. An unfortunate or unpleasant occurrence, especially one resulting from an accident or something going wrong.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Then Jill came in, And she did grin, To see Jack's paper plaster; Her mother whipt her, Across her knee, For laughing at Jack's disaster.

   More examples (1)

   And no use for anyone to tell Charles that this was because the Family was in mourning for Mr Granville Darracott […]: Charles might only have been second footman at Darracott Place for a couple of months when that disaster occurred, but no one could gammon him into thinking that my lord cared a spangle for his heir.

   A nod means good, two nods; very good. And then there's the pursing of the lips: disaster.

3. An wholly unsatisfactory result caused by something going wrong or being done poorly; a flop or failure.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   the cake was a disaster.

4. A skateboard trick involving a 180-degree ollie, landing on the center of the board with the front trucks facing towards the ramp and the back trucks over the lip. The skater then leans forwards to return in the ramp.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Noun

1. a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

   Synonyms

   catastrophe

   Broader terms

   adversityhardshiphard knocks

   Examples

   lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system

   his policies were a disaster

2. an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

   Synonyms

   calamitycatastrophetragedycataclysm

   Broader terms

   misfortunebad luck

   Examples

   the whole city was affected by the irremediable calamity

   the earthquake was a disaster

3. an act that has disastrous consequences

   Broader terms

   destructiondevastation