catastrophes
Complete and utter disasters
Catastrophes is the plural of catastrophe—sudden, large-scale disasters or calamities.
The word applies to events causing widespread destruction or suffering: natural catastrophes like earthquakes and floods, or human-made ones like wars and industrial accidents.
It also covers personal disasters: a series of financial catastrophes.
The scale implied is severe—more than setbacks, less than apocalypse.
Disastrous or sorrowful event
- lossBeing without something
- ruinComplete destruction or collapse
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
divorce · bereavement · downfall · crisis · misfortune · setback · heartbreak · grief
Seismic ground movement
- tsunamiSeismic sea surge
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
- volcanic eruptionExplosive geological discharge
cyclone · typhoon · wildfire · avalanche · landslide · tornado · drought · famine
Violent burst of energy
- nuclear meltdownReactor core destruction
- ChernobylSoviet nuclear disaster site
- FukushimaJapanese nuclear accident site
- oil spillPetroleum released into water
industrial accident · Bhopal · chemical leak · collapse · derailment · mine disaster · dam failure · environmental contamination
Total civilizational collapse
- extinction eventCatastrophic biodiversity collapse
- mass destructionLarge-scale total ruin
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- holocaustLarge-scale fiery destruction
devastation · widespread · global · unprecedented · massive · total · complete · overwhelming
Easing of distress
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- rescueSave from harm
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- humanitarianHelper of suffering people
aid · recovery · rebuilding · survivors · victims · first responders · Red Cross · FEMA
Volcano-buried Roman city
- TitanicIll-fated 1912 vessel
- HindenburgIll-fated German dirigible
- Black DeathMedieval bubonic plague pandemic
- plagueDeadly epidemic disease
Hiroshima · Holocaust · genocide · extinction · mass casualty · Atlantis · Dust Bowl · sinking
tragedy
Disastrous or sorrowful event
- lossBeing without something
- ruinComplete destruction or collapse
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
bankruptcy · divorce · bereavement · downfall · crisis · misfortune · setback · heartbreak · grief · despair
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
volcanic eruption · cyclone · typhoon · wildfire · avalanche · landslide · tornado · drought · famine · monsoon
explosion
Violent burst of energy
- nuclear meltdownReactor core destruction
- ChernobylSoviet nuclear disaster site
- FukushimaJapanese nuclear accident site
oil spill · industrial accident · Bhopal · chemical leak · collapse · derailment · mine disaster · dam failure · environmental contamination · toxic
apocalypse
Total civilizational collapse
- extinction eventCatastrophic biodiversity collapse
- mass destructionLarge-scale total ruin
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
holocaust · devastation · widespread · global · unprecedented · massive · total · complete · overwhelming · colossal
relief
Easing of distress
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- rescueSave from harm
- emergencySerious sudden danger
humanitarian · aid · recovery · rebuilding · survivors · victims · first responders · Red Cross · FEMA · shelter
Pompeii
Volcano-buried Roman city
- TitanicIll-fated 1912 vessel
- HindenburgIll-fated German dirigible
- Black DeathMedieval bubonic plague pandemic
plague · Hiroshima · Holocaust · genocide · extinction · mass casualty · Atlantis · Dust Bowl · sinking · ruins
- failuresfailure, failures, flop, flops, bust
- mismanagementmishandling, dysfunction, misuse, incompetence, inefficiency
- destroyersdestroyers, guided missile, torpedo tubes, hull, stern
catastrophesblessings
Favors from the divine
miracles · triumphs · windfalls · godsends · breakthroughs
catastrophesinconveniences
Minor difficulties or bothers
trivialities · hiccups · annoyances · trifles · bumps in the road
catastrophesmiracles
Supernatural extraordinary events
lucky breaks · serendipities · divine interventions · twists of fate
- climate catastropheSevere worldwide environmental breakdown
- catastrophic floodingSevere water overflow causing destruction
- catastrophic eventsSeverely damaging large-scale occurrences
- catastrophic lossSevere irreversible damage
catastrophe, catastrophic, catastrophically, catastrophism, catastrophist, catastrophizing, catastrophize, catastrophizes, catastrophized