Disastrous describessays what a person or thing is like something that causes very serious harm, failurelack of success or not working as intended, or bad results. It is often used for events, decisions, or outcomesresults or final effects of actions or events that go badly wrong.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /dɪˈzæstrəs/
Easy pronunciation: dih-ZAS-trus (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: ZAS.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Disastrous Meaning
very bad and causing serious trouble or failure
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: Causing extremely bad consequences or a complete failure; bringing ruin or severe harm.
Example: The decision had disastrous consequences for the company.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- calamitous — A strong synonym for events with severe harmful results.
- fatal — Works when the result is extremely harmful or final, but it can be stronger or more literal in some contexts.
- fateful — Can fit when an event has major consequences, though it often suggests importance rather than disaster itself.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Disastrous Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- calamitous
- fatal
- fateful
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use disastrous for anything merely disappointing, but it usually means something much more serious.
- Do not confuse disastrous with fateful: fateful means important or निर्णative in consequence, but not necessarily bad.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does disastrous mean?
Disastrous means extremely bad in its effects, often causing serious harm, failure, or ruin.
What are some synonyms for disastrous?
Good synonyms include calamitous, fatal, and sometimes fateful, depending on the context.
Is disastrous always negative?
Yes. It describes something with very bad results or consequences.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-21. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
