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Calamitous - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Calamitous means causing great harm or disaster. It describes events or situations that are extremely unfortunate, destructive, or disastrous, often leading to severe consequences. Example: The earthquake had calamitous effects.

calamitous

/kəˈlæmɪtəs/ /kəˈlæmɪtəs/

Definition:

Involving or causing great disaster or misfortune.

Synonyms:

disastrous, catastrophic, devastating, tragic

Part of Speech:

adjective

Antonyms:

fortunate, auspicious

Common Collocations:

calamitous event, calamitous consequences, calamitous mistake

Derivatives:

calamity, calamitously

Usage Tips:

Use "calamitous" to describe events with severe negative outcomes; avoid for minor mishaps.

Common Phrases:

calamitous turn of events, calamitous failure, in a calamitous state

Etymology:

From Latin "calamitosus," meaning "destructive," derived from "calamitas" (disaster).

Examples:

  • 1. The earthquake had calamitous effects on the city.
  • 2. His decision led to a calamitous financial loss.
  • 3. The storm caused a calamitous collapse of the bridge.
  • 4. Their argument had a calamitous impact on their friendship.

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