DISASTER

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does disaster mean? 

• DISASTER (noun)
  The noun DISASTER has 3 senses:

1. a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

2. an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

3. an act that has disastrous consequences

  Familiarity information: DISASTER used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISASTER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

catastrophe; disaster

Context example:

his policies were a disaster

Hypernyms ("disaster" is a kind of...):

adversity; hard knocks; hardship (a state of misfortune or affliction)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An event resulting in great loss and misfortune

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

calamity; cataclysm; catastrophe; disaster; tragedy

Context example:

the earthquake was a disaster

Hypernyms ("disaster" is a kind of...):

bad luck; misfortune (unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "disaster"):

act of God; force majeure; inevitable accident; unavoidable casualty; vis major (a natural and unavoidable catastrophe that interrupts the expected course of events)

apocalypse (a cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil)

famine (a severe shortage of food (as through crop failure) resulting in violent hunger and starvation and death)

kiss of death (something that is ruinous)

meltdown (a disaster comparable to a nuclear meltdown)

plague (any large scale calamity (especially when thought to be sent by God))

visitation (any disaster or catastrophe)

tidal wave (an unusual (and often destructive) rise of water along the seashore caused by a storm or a combination of wind and high tide)

tsunami (a cataclysm resulting from a destructive sea wave caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruption)

Derivation:

disastrous ((of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An act that has disastrous consequences

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("disaster" is a kind of...):

destruction; devastation (the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists)

 Context examples 

Issue associated with problems relating to a system, component, file, procedure, or person available to replace or help restore a primary item in the event of a failure or externally caused disaster.

(Data Back-Up Problem Associated with Medical Device, Food and Drug Administration)

They looked at records of weather-related events in those countries for a 30-year stretch and compared them with projections for population growth and future weather disasters.

(Study: Climate Change Will Bring 50-Fold Rise in Europe Weather-related Deaths, VOA News)

Preparing for a disaster can reduce the fear, anxiety and losses that disasters cause.

(Disaster Preparation and Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency)

The disaster has long been thought down to a collision with an iceberg.

(UK documentary claims fire weakened RMS Titanic, Wikinews)

Some people have long-term problems after a disaster, including: • Post-traumatic stress disorder • Depression • Self-blame • Suicidal thoughts • Alcohol or drug abuse

(Coping with Disasters, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Bonaldo also said that a possible link between the genetic variation and environmental disasters cannot be confirmed as yet.

(Brazil scientists find mutations in yellow fever virus, Agência Brasil)

Since 1980, the U.S. has sustained more than 200 weather and climate disasters that exceeded $1.1 trillion in overall damages.

(2016 was 2nd warmest year on record for U.S., NOAA)

You should have a disaster plan.

(Chemical Emergencies, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Outbreaks can also happen after disasters.

(Cholera, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Martin opened it with a premonition of disaster, and read it standing at the open door when he had received it from the postman.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)