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catastrophic

/ˌˈkædəˌstrɑfɪk/
/kætəˈstrɒfɪk/
IPA guide

Something catastrophic is very harmful or disastrous. When the stock market crashes, it’s a catastrophic event for investors.

This is a strong word for terrible, harmful, devastating things. Tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis are catastrophic weather events. A depression is catastrophic for the economy. In sports, if the star player is injured, that's catastrophic for the team. If a parent dies, that's catastrophic for a family. Scientists worry that climate change will have a catastrophic effect on the planet. Catastrophic events are severe and horrific. Stubbing your toe isn’t catastrophic: losing your leg in an accident is.

Definitions of catastrophic
  1. adjective
    extremely harmful; bringing physical or financial ruin
    “a catastrophic depression”
    catastrophic illness”
    synonyms: ruinous
    harmful
    causing or capable of causing harm
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘catastrophic'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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