calamitous
adjective
ca·lam·i·tous
kə-ˈla-mə-təs 
: being, causing, or accompanied by calamity
calamitous events
a calamitous earthquake
calamitously
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of calamitous in a Sentence
the calamitous state of the nation's economy
a calamitous decision to sell their products online exclusively ruined the business
Recent Examples on the Web
Bakish was Shari Redstone’s choice to run Viacom in 2016, after a calamitous period marked by lawsuits and a purge of top managers and board members aligned with her father.
—
Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024
The effects of burning coal have been irrefutably calamitous.
—Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 9 May 2024
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona apologized to students and families for a series of calamitous delays in the aid process, as a bipartisan group of lawmakers raised new concerns about the likelihood of similar issues troubling the next admissions cycle.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024
Its working-age population peaked in 2006 at around 90 million and stands at less than 80 million today, a calamitous trend.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2024
Music For Subscribers Behind the calamitous fall of hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
Dec. 13, 2023
Where does the case stand?
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Seven people in total died when Russian drones struck a fuel depot late Friday night in one of the most calamitous attacks yet on Kharkiv, the northeastern city that has suffered a series of missile strikes in recent weeks.
—Carlotta Gall Lynsey Addario, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2024
But with another heavy workload likely in the cards given the uncertainty surrounding Lawrence, Etienne could play a critical role in helping the Jaguars avoid a calamitous tumble out of the playoff picture.
—USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024
Music For Subscribers Behind the calamitous fall of hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
Dec. 13, 2023
Authorities have said little about the probe.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2024
The effects of burning coal have been irrefutably calamitous.
—Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 9 May 2024
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona apologized to students and families for a series of calamitous delays in the aid process, as a bipartisan group of lawmakers raised new concerns about the likelihood of similar issues troubling the next admissions cycle.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 7 May 2024
Its working-age population peaked in 2006 at around 90 million and stands at less than 80 million today, a calamitous trend.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Apr. 2024
Music For Subscribers Behind the calamitous fall of hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
Dec. 13, 2023
Where does the case stand?
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Seven people in total died when Russian drones struck a fuel depot late Friday night in one of the most calamitous attacks yet on Kharkiv, the northeastern city that has suffered a series of missile strikes in recent weeks.
—Carlotta Gall Lynsey Addario, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2024
But with another heavy workload likely in the cards given the uncertainty surrounding Lawrence, Etienne could play a critical role in helping the Jaguars avoid a calamitous tumble out of the playoff picture.
—USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024
Music For Subscribers Behind the calamitous fall of hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
Dec. 13, 2023
Authorities have said little about the probe.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'calamitous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near calamitous
Cite this Entry
“Calamitous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calamitous. Accessed 14 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calamitous
adjective
ca·lam·i·tous
kə-ˈlam-ət-əs
: causing or accompanied by calamity
calamitous events
calamitously
adverb
calamitousness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share