catastrophe

US /kəˈtæs.trə.fi/

UK /kəˈtæs.trə.fi/

1.

an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster

:

•

The earthquake was a natural catastrophe.

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The financial crisis was an economic catastrophe for many families.

:

disaster calamity tragedy cataclysm debacle

2.

a sudden and utter failure

:

•

His attempt to fix the car turned into a complete catastrophe.

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The party was a social catastrophe; no one had fun.

:

failure fiasco mess ruin disaster

:

catastrophic catastrophe theory