A calamity is an event that causes a great deal of damage, destruction, or personal distress.
[formal]
He described drugs as the greatest calamity of the age.
...the calamity of war.
It could only end in calamity.
Synonyms: disaster, tragedy, ruin, distress More Synonyms of calamity
calamity in British English
(kəˈlæmɪtɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
a disaster or misfortune, esp one causing extreme havoc, distress, or misery
2.
a state or feeling of deep distress or misery
Word origin
C15: from French calamité, from Latin calamitās; related to Latin incolumis uninjured
calamity in American English
(kəˈlæməti)
nounWord forms: pluralcaˈlamities
1.
deep trouble or misery
2.
any extreme misfortune bringing great loss and sorrow; disaster
SIMILAR WORDS: disˈaster
Word origin
MFr calamité < L calamitas: see clastic
Examples of 'calamity' in a sentence
calamity
His early career reads like one calamity after another.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But this season has been one calamity after another.
The Sun (2016)
The threat of economic calamity presses in on many fronts.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The rest of it is sleepwalking to economic calamity.
The Sun (2014)
She said that the nation could be facing financial calamity without what she called bold and decisive action.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There is no doubt that he has been under enormous pressure as his team have staggered from one calamity to another.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In Britain no bank has been called to account for its part in the current economic calamity.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I plan ahead to avoid calamity.
Christianity Today (2000)
Economic historians now consider that an almost mystical attachment to the 19th-century gold standard turned a normal business downturn into an economic calamity.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Lots of economists say we need a'fiscal stimulus' to avoid calamity.
The Sun (2008)
The chief executive of the world's largest bank presided over one calamity after another in the run-up to his demise.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A lot has changed since financial calamity struck in the summer of 2007, much for the better.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Things get on and thrive at the expense of other things, so the bigger the calamity for one section, the better the opportunity for another.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Quotations
Calamities are of two kinds: misfortune to ourselves, and good fortune to othersAmbrose BierceThe Devil's Dictionary
In other languages
calamity
British English: calamity NOUN
A calamity is an event that causes a great deal of damage, destruction, or personal distress.
We may be looking at the greatest natural calamity in human history.
American English: calamity
Brazilian Portuguese: calamidade
Chinese: 灾难
European Spanish: calamidad
French: calamité
German: Katastrophe
Italian: calamità
Japanese: 災難
Korean: 재난
European Portuguese: calamidade
Latin American Spanish: calamidad
(noun)
Definition
a disaster or misfortune
This course of action could only end in calamity.
Synonyms
disaster
the second air disaster in less than two months
tragedy
They have suffered an enormous personal tragedy.
ruin
distress
There was little support to help them in their distress.
reversal of fortune
hardship
Many people are suffering economic hardship.
catastrophe
The world is heading towards an environmental catastrophe.
woe
He listened to my tale of woe.
misfortune
He had had his full share of misfortunes.
downfall
adversity
He showed courage in adversity.
scourge
Vandalism is a scourge that is ruining our beautiful town.
mishap
After a number of mishaps she finally managed to get back home.
affliction
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
trial
the trials of adolescence
tribulation
the trials and tribulations of everyday life
misadventure
a verdict of death by misadventure
cataclysm
the cataclysm that was overwhelming Europe before the Second World War
wretchedness
mischance
By some mischance, she injured her knee again.
Opposites
help
,
benefit
,
advantage
,
blessing
,
good luck
,
boon
,
good fortune
Quotation
Calamities are of two kinds: misfortune to ourselves, and good fortune to others [Ambrose Bierce – The Devil's Dictionary]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adversity
Definition
very difficult or hard circumstances
He showed courage in adversity.
Synonyms
hardship,
trouble,
distress,
suffering,
trial,
disaster,
reverse,
misery,
hard times,
catastrophe,
sorrow,
woe,
misfortune,
bad luck,
deep water,
calamity,
mishap,
affliction,
wretchedness,
ill-fortune,
ill-luck
in the sense of affliction
Definition
something that causes physical or mental suffering
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
Synonyms
misfortune,
suffering,
trouble,
trial,
disease,
pain,
distress,
grief,
misery,
plague (informal),
curse,
ordeal,
sickness,
torment,
hardship,
sorrow,
woe,
adversity,
calamity,
scourge,
tribulation,
wretchedness
in the sense of cataclysm
Definition
a disaster such as an earthquake or a flood
the cataclysm that was overwhelming Europe before the Second World War