calamitous love

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "calamitous love" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a love that leads to disaster or misfortune, often in a dramatic or literary context. Example: "Their calamitous love story ended in heartbreak and tragedy, leaving both of them forever changed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Rajaa Alsanea's novel, set in the form of a gossipy internet blog about four upper-middle-class Saudi girls and their calamitous love lives, was officially banned in Saudi Arabia when it was published in Arabic two years ago (and a lawsuit was briefly filed against the author, fortunately away in America studying dentistry).

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

For a lesser storyteller, inserting a novel's themes into the mouths of minor characters might prove as calamitous as meddling with love.

The New York Times - Books

How can a person with such a clear and calamitous resume guide the process of love?

Huffington Post

In many of these tales, the normal course of love is halted and redirected by a calamitous event: the onset and cruel progress of a spouse's debilitating disease, the discovery of adultery, the initiation of a child-custody battle.

The New York Times - Books

Once upon a time, American families gathered there to see Carol Burnett gamely sing along with Julie Andrews, or Mary Tyler Moore throw a calamitous cocktail party, or even Charo make her umpteenth "Love Boat" appearance.

The New York Times - Arts

Few love letters have ever felt so gleefully calamitous.

Vice

And she has a deep understanding of her subject's life, in which a rigorous dedication to her art was often undermined by a chaotic series of obsessive loves — McCullers gave as good as she got — and calamitous health problems.

The New York Times

In its modest fashion, Film Comment Selects helps offset the calamitous state of foreign-language film distribution by highlighting work that hasn't (yet) inspired the love and guts it takes to put a subtitled movie in American theaters.

The New York Times

To abuse a famous line from another film: they're young, they're in love, and they shoot up, which they do with increasing frequency and with increasingly calamitous effect.

The New York Times

Not calamitous or terminal.

The Economist

The result was calamitous.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "calamitous love" to add a touch of dramatic flair when describing a relationship marked by significant misfortune or disaster. The adjective heightens the sense of tragedy.

Common error

Avoid using "calamitous love" to describe everyday relationship issues. Its strong connotation of disaster is best reserved for situations involving genuine tragedy or significant misfortune.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "calamitous love" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "calamitous" modifies the noun "love". It describes a specific quality of love, indicating that it is associated with or leads to disaster. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is usable and correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "calamitous love" is a phrase used to describe a romantic relationship marked by significant misfortune or disaster. While grammatically correct, as supported by Ludwig AI, it is relatively rare. Its primary function is to evoke a sense of tragedy, with its usage mainly found in News & Media contexts. When employing the phrase, ensure the context warrants the dramatic weight of "calamitous", reserving it for situations involving genuine tragedy. Consider alternatives like "disastrous love" or "tragic love" for less intense scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disastrous love

Replaces "calamitous" with a more common synonym, focusing on the negative outcome of the love.

tragic love

Highlights the sorrowful and unfortunate nature of the love, often implying a predetermined, unavoidable fate.

ill-fated romance

Shifts the focus to the romantic relationship being doomed from the start.

doomed love

Similar to 'ill-fated romance', but with a stronger emphasis on the inevitability of a negative outcome.

unfortunate love affair

Emphasizes the negative circumstances surrounding the love affair, suggesting bad luck or external factors.

love marred by tragedy

Focuses on the love being damaged or spoiled by a tragic event.

love leading to ruin

Highlights the destructive consequences of the love, with "ruin" being the most significant impact.

love with devastating consequences

Emphasizes the severity of the negative outcomes resulting from the love.

turbulent love affair

Describes the love as unstable and chaotic, full of difficulties and problems.

tempestuous love

Suggests a love that is passionate but also stormy and prone to conflict.

FAQs

How can I use "calamitous love" in a sentence?

Use "calamitous love" to describe a romantic relationship characterized by tragedy, disaster, or significant misfortune. For example: "Their "calamitous love" story ended in heartbreak and despair."

What's a less dramatic alternative to "calamitous love"?

If "calamitous love" sounds too intense, consider using "unfortunate love affair", "turbulent love affair", or "difficult romance" depending on the context.

Is "calamitous love" a common phrase?

No, "calamitous love" is not a commonly used phrase. It is more likely to be found in literary or dramatic contexts. You may prefer alternatives as: "disastrous love", "tragic love", or "ill-fated romance".

What distinguishes "calamitous love" from "tragic love"?

"Tragic love" emphasizes the sadness and inevitability of an unfortunate ending. While "calamitous love" highlights the disastrous and ruinous consequences associated with the love. The phrase "tragic love" often implies a sense of fated misfortune.