catastrophic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Causing terrible damage, suffering, or destruction.

   The earthquake had a catastrophic effect on the whole region.

2. 2
   adj

   So serious that it leads to total failure with no chance of recovery.

   A single catastrophic mistake destroyed the company overnight.

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek καταστροφικός (katastrophikós). By surface analysis, catastrophe + -ic.

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