disastrous

B1
US /dɪˈzæs.tɹəs/ UK /dɪˈzɑː.stɹəs/
adj Freq #12739

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    Of the nature of a disaster; calamitous.

    In addition, he was also able to reinforce the unease among progressive Democratic-leaning voters over Clinton’s disastrous pro-interventionist positions, thereby suppressing turnout and encouraging third party support in some key swing states that made the difference in his Electoral College victory.

  2. 2
    adj

    Foreboding disaster; ill-omened.

    A fearsome sight it was to behold how he swelled in his wrath, and his eyes blazed like disastrous stars at midnight, and being wood with anger he gnashed his teeth till the froth stood at his lips and slavered down his chin.

  3. 3
    adj

    (of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences

Etymology

From disaster + -ous, after Middle French desastreux (modern French désastreux; from desastre (modern French désastre, “disaster”; from des- + astre, a calque of Italian disastro) + -eux), itself after Italian disastroso, from disastro + -oso, from dis- (“away, without”) (from Latin dis-) + astro (“star, planet”) (from Latin astrum (“star, celestial body”), from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓́στρον (ắstron)).

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Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · of the nature of a... cataclysmiccatastrophic
2 adj · foreboding disaster;... augurousbalefulbodefulbodingbroodingdiredisastrousdivinefatalforebodingill-bodingill-fated
3 adj · (of events) having... black
More apocalypticcalamitouscataclysmaldeadlydebaculardestructivedevastatingdisadventurouseradicativeextirpative
Word family
Derived forms disastrouslydisastrousnessnondisastrousundisastrous
Related forms disasterdisastrously

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