Catastrophic
adjective
Causing a lot of damage or harm.
The impact of the hurricane was catastrophic.
Often appears as...
- catastrophic event
- catastrophic consequence
adjective
Extremely unfortunate or unsuccessful.
The party was a catastrophic failure because nobody showed up.
Often appears as...
- catastrophic failure
- catastrophic results
adjective
Involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.
The catastrophic injury left him paralyzed from the neck down.
Often appears as...
- catastrophic injury
- catastrophic illness
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Causing a lot of damage or harm.
The impact of the hurricane was catastrophic.
Often appears as...
- catastrophic event
- catastrophic consequence
adjective
Extremely unfortunate or unsuccessful.
The party was a catastrophic failure because nobody showed up.
Often appears as...
- catastrophic failure
- catastrophic results
adjective
Involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering.
The catastrophic injury left him paralyzed from the neck down.
Often appears as...
- catastrophic injury
- catastrophic illness
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Disaster Scale
Use 'catastrophic' to describe events that have large-scale, severe effects, like earthquakes.
A catastrophic earthquake shattered the city.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Tone
Carries a negative connotation, implying a situation is beyond mere damage and is extremely dire.
The forest fire had catastrophic consequences for the ecosystem.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Personal
'Catastrophic' is rarely used for small, personal issues, unless exaggerated for humor.
Forgetting my password was catastrophic for my online gaming career.
Pro Tip 1/3Disaster Scale
Use 'catastrophic' to describe events that have large-scale, severe effects, like earthquakes.
A catastrophic earthquake shattered the city.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Tone
Carries a negative connotation, implying a situation is beyond mere damage and is extremely dire.
The forest fire had catastrophic consequences for the ecosystem.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Personal
'Catastrophic' is rarely used for small, personal issues, unless exaggerated for humor.
Forgetting my password was catastrophic for my online gaming career.
Pro Tip 1/3Disaster Scale
Use 'catastrophic' to describe events that have large-scale, severe effects, like earthquakes.
A catastrophic earthquake shattered the city.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Tone
Carries a negative connotation, implying a situation is beyond mere damage and is extremely dire.
The forest fire had catastrophic consequences for the ecosystem.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Personal
'Catastrophic' is rarely used for small, personal issues, unless exaggerated for humor.
Forgetting my password was catastrophic for my online gaming career.
Never forget "Catastrophic"
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Video examples
How heavy is air? - Dan...
from the mundane to the catastrophic. But differences in air pressure do more than just let us complain about the weather; they're the very reason we're alive. We breathe by lowering the pressure in our lungs, allowing air to rush in. So the next time you take a deep breath, think of the unfathomable number of air molecules
Video examples
Depression, the secret...
you are still deeply sad, but you're functioning a little better, it's probably grief, and it will probably ultimately resolve itself in some measure. If you experience a catastrophic loss, and you feel terrible, and six months later you can barely function at all, then it's probably a depression that was triggered
Video examples
Sex and Fruit: The Sweet...
the least explored of the big forests of the world congo basin mainly really because it's pretty hard to work there because the political situation is somewhere between bad and catastrophic i went there to photograph our closest relative the bonobo and it's kind of absurd how little we know about it
Video examples
Why certain naturally...
Without wildfires to rejuvenate trees, key forest species would disappear, and so would the many creatures that depend on them. And if a fire-dependent forest goes too long without burning, that raises the risk of a catastrophic blaze, which could destroy a forest completely,
Video examples
Is our climate headed...
can lead to catastrophic effects all over the world. How can such a small measurable change in one factor lead to massive and unpredictable changes in other factors? The answer lies in the concept of a mathematical tipping point,
Video examples
Sleep is your superpower...
It is your life-support system, and it is Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality. And the decimation of sleep throughout industrialized nations is having a catastrophic impact on our health, our wellness,
Video examples
My plan to help refugees...
succeed our future is not going to be bright either if we don't help them to become constructive productive members of the new societies it is going to be catastrophic waste of talent and
Video examples
Is war between China and...
Or can we, through a combination of imagination and common sense and courage find a way to manage this rivalry without a war nobody wants, and everybody knows would be catastrophic?
Video examples
The most mysterious star...
and the catastrophic destruction of a planet. Now, I admit that this would produce a lot of dust that we don't observe. But if we're already invoking aliens in this explanation,
Video examples
Triumph of the...
And having eyes on the side of your head, so that you can't see directly forward, can be catastrophic.
Video examples
How heavy is air? - Dan...
from the mundane to the catastrophic. But differences in air pressure do more than just let us complain about the weather; they're the very reason we're alive. We breathe by lowering the pressure in our lungs, allowing air to rush in. So the next time you take a deep breath, think of the unfathomable number of air molecules
Video examples
Depression, the secret...
you are still deeply sad, but you're functioning a little better, it's probably grief, and it will probably ultimately resolve itself in some measure. If you experience a catastrophic loss, and you feel terrible, and six months later you can barely function at all, then it's probably a depression that was triggered
Video examples
Sex and Fruit: The Sweet...
the least explored of the big forests of the world congo basin mainly really because it's pretty hard to work there because the political situation is somewhere between bad and catastrophic i went there to photograph our closest relative the bonobo and it's kind of absurd how little we know about it
Video examples
Why certain naturally...
Without wildfires to rejuvenate trees, key forest species would disappear, and so would the many creatures that depend on them. And if a fire-dependent forest goes too long without burning, that raises the risk of a catastrophic blaze, which could destroy a forest completely,
Video examples
Is our climate headed...
can lead to catastrophic effects all over the world. How can such a small measurable change in one factor lead to massive and unpredictable changes in other factors? The answer lies in the concept of a mathematical tipping point,
Video examples
Sleep is your superpower...
It is your life-support system, and it is Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality. And the decimation of sleep throughout industrialized nations is having a catastrophic impact on our health, our wellness,
Video examples
My plan to help refugees...
succeed our future is not going to be bright either if we don't help them to become constructive productive members of the new societies it is going to be catastrophic waste of talent and
Video examples
Is war between China and...
Or can we, through a combination of imagination and common sense and courage find a way to manage this rivalry without a war nobody wants, and everybody knows would be catastrophic?
Video examples
The most mysterious star...
and the catastrophic destruction of a planet. Now, I admit that this would produce a lot of dust that we don't observe. But if we're already invoking aliens in this explanation,
Video examples
Triumph of the...
And having eyes on the side of your head, so that you can't see directly forward, can be catastrophic.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Annalee Newitz
American Journalist
Fifty years ago, historians advised politicians and policy-makers. They helped chart the future of nations by helping leaders learn from past mistakes in history. But then something changed, and we began making decisions based on economic principles rather than historical ones. The results were catastrophic.
Quote examples
Salim Akil
No matter how happy and peaceful you can be at a certain time, you always have this - at least, I do - paranoia or catastrophic thought that even now that I have all this peace and quiet, what's the next challenge? What's coming next? On a very human level, I think most people can identify with that.
Quote examples
Henry Rollins
American Musician
In Israel, there's a lot to learn from anyone, because to live there you've got to deal with the truth. Things happen real fast. Your day goes from cool to catastrophic in one second. Israelis know that the cafe you're in could blow up, or the shopping mall, and they rock that.
Quote examples
Jello Biafra
American Musician
I've been to enough other countries in the world to know what happens when you have socialized single-payer health care. It works. People don't get sick as much. They don't lose their life savings with a catastrophic illness like cancer or AIDS.
Quote examples
Hoda Kotb
American Journalist
Ten Years Later' is about the journey six extraordinary people take with time. Each has experienced a game-changing event - perhaps a life-threatening illness or a catastrophic personal loss.
Quote examples
Lois Lowry
American Writer
Gathering Blue' was a separate book. I wanted to explore what a society might become after a catastrophic world event. Only at the end did I realize I could make it connect to 'The Giver.
Quote examples
Marlo Thomas
American Actress
As much success came to him, my father stayed true to his promise. He built the hospital to help the most helpless children with catastrophic illnesses.
Quote examples
Miriam Margolyes
English Actress
I don't think people realise how important it is to have your blood pressure checked. Stroke is so sudden, so catastrophic.
Quote examples
David Ignatius
American Journalist
The value of catastrophic events is that they can help people face up to problems that are otherwise impossible to address.
Quote examples
James Nesbitt
Irish Actor
In my life, I have made the occasional catastrophic choice, and it's just a case of moving on and learning from it.
Quote examples
Annalee Newitz
American Journalist
Fifty years ago, historians advised politicians and policy-makers. They helped chart the future of nations by helping leaders learn from past mistakes in history. But then something changed, and we began making decisions based on economic principles rather than historical ones. The results were catastrophic.
Quote examples
Salim Akil
No matter how happy and peaceful you can be at a certain time, you always have this - at least, I do - paranoia or catastrophic thought that even now that I have all this peace and quiet, what's the next challenge? What's coming next? On a very human level, I think most people can identify with that.
Quote examples
Henry Rollins
American Musician
In Israel, there's a lot to learn from anyone, because to live there you've got to deal with the truth. Things happen real fast. Your day goes from cool to catastrophic in one second. Israelis know that the cafe you're in could blow up, or the shopping mall, and they rock that.
Quote examples
Jello Biafra
American Musician
I've been to enough other countries in the world to know what happens when you have socialized single-payer health care. It works. People don't get sick as much. They don't lose their life savings with a catastrophic illness like cancer or AIDS.
Quote examples
Hoda Kotb
American Journalist
Ten Years Later' is about the journey six extraordinary people take with time. Each has experienced a game-changing event - perhaps a life-threatening illness or a catastrophic personal loss.
Quote examples
Lois Lowry
American Writer
Gathering Blue' was a separate book. I wanted to explore what a society might become after a catastrophic world event. Only at the end did I realize I could make it connect to 'The Giver.
Quote examples
Marlo Thomas
American Actress
As much success came to him, my father stayed true to his promise. He built the hospital to help the most helpless children with catastrophic illnesses.
Quote examples
Miriam Margolyes
English Actress
I don't think people realise how important it is to have your blood pressure checked. Stroke is so sudden, so catastrophic.
Quote examples
David Ignatius
American Journalist
The value of catastrophic events is that they can help people face up to problems that are otherwise impossible to address.
Quote examples
James Nesbitt
Irish Actor
In my life, I have made the occasional catastrophic choice, and it's just a case of moving on and learning from it.
Example 1 of 10
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