Synonyms for disaster
dɪˈzæs tər, -ˈzɑ stərdis·as·ter

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.0 / 2 votes

1. disaster

   An accident is that which happens without any one's direct intention; a chance that which happens without any known cause. If the direct cause of a railroad accident is known, we can not call it a chance. To the theist there is, in strictness, no chance, all things being by divine causation and control; but chance is spoken of where no special cause is manifest: "By chance there came down a certain priest that way," Luke x, 31. We can speak of a game of chance, but not of a game of accident. An incident is viewed as occurring in the regular course of things, but subordinate to the main purpose, or aside from the main design. Fortune is the result of inscrutable controlling forces. Fortune and chance are nearly equivalent, but chance can be used of human effort and endeavor as fortune can not be; we say "he has a chance of success," or "there is one chance in a thousand," where we could not substitute fortune; as personified, Fortune is regarded as having a fitful purpose, Chance as purposeless; we speak of fickle Fortune, blind Chance; "Fortune favors the brave." The slaughter of men is an incident of battle; unexpected defeat, the fortune of war. Since the unintended is often the undesirable, accident tends to signify some calamity or disaster, unless the contrary is expressed, as when we say a fortunate or happy accident. An adventure is that which may turn out ill, a misadventure that which does turn out ill. A slight disturbing accident is a mishap. Compare EVENT; HAZARD.

   Synonyms:
   accident, adventure, calamity, casualty, chance, contingency, fortuity, hap, happening, hazard, incident, misadventure, misfortune, mishap, possibility

   Antonyms:
   appointment, calculation, certainty, decree, fate, foreordination, intention, law, necessity, ordainment, ordinance, plan, preparation, provision, purpose

   Preposition:
   The accident of birth; an accident to the machinery.

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. catastrophe, disasternoun

   a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

   "lack of funds has resulted in a catastrophe for our school system"; "his policies were a disaster"

   Synonyms:
   catastrophe, tragedy, calamity, cataclysm

2. calamity, catastrophe, disaster, tragedy, cataclysmnoun

   an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

   "the whole city was affected by the irremediable calamity"; "the earthquake was a disaster"

   Synonyms:
   catastrophe, tragedy, calamity, cataclysm

3. disasternoun

   an act that has disastrous consequences

   Synonyms:
   catastrophe, tragedy, calamity, cataclysm

Matched Categories

1. • Adversity
   • Destruction

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. disasternoun

   Synonyms:
   mishap, misfortune, reverse, mischance, calamity, catastrophe, blow, stroke, casualty

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. disasternoun

   Synonyms:
   calamity, mishap, catastrophe, casualty

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:3.0 / 1 vote

1. List of paraphrases for "disaster":

   catastrophe, disasters, calamity, accident, tragedy, cataclysm, mess, debacle, scourge, destruction, misfortune, shambles, ramp, catastrophes, hazards, devastation

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How to use disaster in a sentence?

1. Jamaal Bowman:

   It's the move towards privatization, it's driven by market-based ideology and the so-called, quote-unquote' choice movement.' So when we talk about vouchers and money moving with kids at the whim of the parents, that's what we're talking about. And it's an example of disaster capitalism within the public education sector.

2. Donald Lindsey:

   We recognize our responsibility to offer more than just words, we owe it to the families impacted (by the Vale disaster) and to our stakeholders to take meaningful action.

3. Margareta Wahlström:

   This new framework... opens a major new chapter in sustainable development as it outlines clear targets and priorities for action which will lead to a substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health.

4. Steve McNamara:

   Today's decision is a disaster for London, uber has demonstrated time and time again that it simply can't be trusted to put the safety of Londoners, its drivers and other road users above profit. Sadly, it seems that Uber is too big to regulate effectively, but too big to fail.

5. Martha Gellman:

   The only aspect of our travels that is interesting to others is disaster.