calamities
Large-scale tragic events
Calamities is the plural of calamity—disasters or events causing great damage, distress, or misfortune.
The word typically describes large-scale catastrophes rather than personal setbacks: The region has suffered floods, earthquakes, and other calamities.
A series of calamities suggests compounding misfortune: Calamities befell the expedition one after another.
Devastating, large-scale misfortune
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- apocalypseTotal civilizational collapse
- cataclysmViolent, large-scale disaster
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
destruction · ruination · annihilation · wreckage · carnage · desolation · obliteration · havoc
Seismic ground movement
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
volcano · eruption · wildfire · drought · avalanche · landslide · blizzard · cyclone
Disastrous or sorrowful event
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
- afflictionCause of ongoing distress
tribulation · ordeal · plight · woe · anguish · grief · sorrow · bereavement
catastrophe
Devastating, large-scale misfortune
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- apocalypseTotal civilizational collapse
- cataclysmViolent, large-scale disaster
devastation · destruction · ruination · annihilation · wreckage · carnage · desolation · obliteration · havoc · mayhem
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
tornado · volcano · eruption · wildfire · drought · avalanche · landslide · blizzard · cyclone · typhoon
tragedy
Disastrous or sorrowful event
- misfortuneAdverse circumstance or event
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
affliction · tribulation · ordeal · plight · woe · anguish · grief · sorrow · bereavement · heartbreak
emergency
Serious sudden danger
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- chaosComplete disorder and confusion
panic · peril · jeopardy · danger · alarm · desperation · predicament · meltdown · breakdown · collapse
war
Armed struggle between groups
- genocideSystematic annihilation of a people
- famineSevere food shortage
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
epidemic · plague · terrorism · massacre · holocaust · atrocity · pogrom · bombing · nuclear disaster · chemical spill
- destroyersdestroyers, guided missile, torpedo tubes, hull, stern
calamitiesblessings
Favors from the divine
boons · godsends · windfalls · miracles · strokes of luck
calamitiesinconveniences
Minor difficulties or bothers
hiccups · trivialities · nuisances · annoyances · trifles
- natural calamitiesDevastating events from nature