a disastrous effect

USAGE SUMMARY

"a disastrous effect" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a negative consequence or outcome of an action or event. Example: The government's decision to cut funding for education had a disastrous effect on the quality of schools and the academic success of students.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It has also had a disastrous effect on Armenia's economy.

The New York Times

A rise in interest rates could have a disastrous effect.

The Guardian - Opinion

That lack of preparation is having a disastrous effect.

The New York Times

That would have a disastrous effect on our economic recovery.

The New York Times

"Brexit has had a disastrous effect on the Irish mushroom industry.

The Guardian - Business

Sadly, our monarchical state has had a disastrous effect on her family.

The Guardian - Opinion

They genuinely loved each other, but Nancy had a disastrous effect on Sid.

The Guardian - Music

The Arab oil boycott had a disastrous effect here, as at other institutions.

The New York Times

The report suggests the conflict has had a disastrous effect on youngsters.

The Guardian

But Churchill's divisive policies had already produced a disastrous effect on the Indian political scene.

The New Yorker

Our drug laws have also had a disastrous effect on women and children.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a disastrous effect", ensure the context clearly establishes what action or event led to this negative outcome. Being specific strengthens your argument and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid pairing "a disastrous effect" with vague verbs like "be" or "happen". Instead, use stronger verbs like "cause", "trigger", or "result in" to emphasize the causal relationship and impact of the event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a disastrous effect" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or following a preposition. It denotes a significantly negative outcome or consequence, clearly indicating that something has gone wrong or had harmful results, as Ludwig's examples show.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Unknown/unmatched sources

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a disastrous effect" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe significantly negative outcomes. Ludwig's analysis indicates that it is most frequently found in news and media contexts, serving to emphasize the severity of consequences. While alternatives like "a devastating impact" or "a calamitous outcome" can offer nuanced expressions, "a disastrous effect" provides a clear and direct way to convey negative results. Using stronger verbs alongside this phrase enhances its impact, avoiding vagueness. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is widely accepted and easily understood across various registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a devastating impact

Replaces "effect" with "impact", emphasizing the force and reach of the negative consequence.

a calamitous outcome

Substitutes both "disastrous" and "effect" with synonyms emphasizing the unfortunate and tragic nature of the result.

a ruinous consequence

Emphasizes the destructive nature of the outcome, suggesting irreparable damage.

a catastrophic result

Highlights the scale and severity of the negative outcome.

a highly detrimental effect

Uses a more formal tone, specifying the harmful nature of the effect.

a severely damaging outcome

Focuses on the harm caused, suggesting significant and lasting damage.

an extremely adverse impact

Emphasizes the opposing and unfavorable nature of the impact.

a profoundly negative effect

Highlights the depth and extent of the negative consequences.

a tragic consequence

Highlights the unfortunate, grievous or distressing nature of the outcome.

a terrible effect

Replaces "disastrous" with "terrible", maintaining the negative connotation but with a slightly less formal tone.

FAQs

How can I use "a disastrous effect" in a sentence?

Use "a disastrous effect" to describe a significantly negative outcome. For instance, "The oil spill had a disastrous effect on marine life" indicates a severe negative impact on the ocean's ecosystem.

What are some alternatives to saying "a disastrous effect"?

You can use alternatives like "a devastating impact", "a calamitous outcome", or "a ruinous consequence" to express similar meanings.

Is it more appropriate to use "disastrous" or "devastating" when describing negative effects?

"Disastrous" and "devastating" are often interchangeable, but "devastating" ( a devastating impact ) tends to imply a wider scope of impact or emotional distress, while "disastrous" can refer to more localized or specific failures.

What's the difference between "a disastrous effect" and "a negative impact"?

"A disastrous effect" indicates a severe and calamitous outcome, whereas "a negative impact" is a more general term for any adverse influence, regardless of severity.