catastrophic consequences for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "catastrophic consequences for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the severe negative outcomes or effects that may result from a particular action or event. Example: "The decision to ignore safety protocols could lead to catastrophic consequences for the entire community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This can have catastrophic consequences for a family, in the workplace, or for friendships.

The Guardian

"Any withdrawal now would have catastrophic consequences for the U.N.'s credibility".

The New York Times

Last month Boko Haram threatened to strike farther afield, with potentially catastrophic consequences for the economy.

The Guardian

The Russian foreign ministry warned Washington of "catastrophic consequences" for its "reckless support" of Kiev.

The Guardian

It is a shocking state of affairs, which could have catastrophic consequences for public safety.

The Guardian - Opinion

This would have catastrophic consequences for the climate of northern Europe in the long run, he warned.

The Guardian

Here is Ryan's report: "In general, we're concerned [about] the catastrophic consequences for the local population," Van Damme said.

The Guardian

Researchers observe unsafe levels of pollution, ecological change and resource demand, with potentially catastrophic consequences for our global civilisation.

The New York Times

Repeatedly, Mr. Suozzi has suggested that the rejection of his Sewer and Storm Water Authority would have catastrophic consequences for public services.

The New York Times

If that were to happen, he said, the conflict would become irresolvable, with catastrophic consequences for the stability of the entire region.

The New York Times

Just over 200 years ago an Icelandic volcano erupted with catastrophic consequences for weather, agriculture and transport across the northern hemisphere – and helped trigger the French revolution.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "catastrophic consequences for", ensure that the context clearly establishes what action or event leads to these severe outcomes. Specificity strengthens the impact of the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "catastrophic consequences for" lightly. Reserve it for situations where the potential negative impacts are genuinely devastating and far-reaching, to maintain its intended gravity and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catastrophic consequences for" functions as a noun phrase acting as a direct object or part of a prepositional phrase. It emphasizes the severity and potential damage resulting from a specific action or event. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "catastrophic consequences for" is a frequently used expression to denote extremely severe and damaging outcomes. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical structure is correct, and the phrase is widely used across various authoritative sources, including news media, scientific publications, and formal business contexts. The phrase serves to warn or highlight the potential severity of a situation, emphasizing risks and potential damage. While its use is common, it should be reserved for situations where the potential negative impacts are genuinely devastating, to maintain its gravity and credibility. Alternatives such as "devastating repercussions for" or "dire ramifications for" can be used to add variety while maintaining a similar level of impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

devastating repercussions for

Replaces "catastrophic" with "devastating" and "consequences" with "repercussions", both implying severe negative effects.

dire ramifications for

Substitutes "catastrophic" with "dire" and "consequences" with "ramifications", emphasizing the gravity of the outcomes.

grave outcomes for

Replaces "catastrophic consequences" with "grave outcomes", focusing on serious and significant results.

severe repercussions for

Emphasizes the intensity of the negative effects by using "severe" in place of "catastrophic".

terrible aftermath for

Focuses on the resulting period after an event, using "terrible" to describe the severity of the situation.

disastrous effects on

Changes the structure to focus on the "effects on" something, using "disastrous" to convey the severity.

critical implications for

Highlights the importance and potential impact, using "critical implications" instead of directly describing negative results.

destructive impact on

Shifts the focus to the "impact on" something, describing it as "destructive" to indicate the severe damage.

ruinous effects on

Replaces "catastrophic" with "ruinous", emphasizing the destructive and damaging nature of the effects.

tragic results for

Focuses on the sorrowful and unfortunate nature of the consequences, using "tragic results".

FAQs

How can I use "catastrophic consequences for" in a sentence?

Use "catastrophic consequences for" to describe situations where an action or event could lead to extremely damaging or devastating outcomes. For example, "Ignoring climate change could have "catastrophic consequences for" the environment".

What are some alternatives to "catastrophic consequences for"?

You can use alternatives like "devastating repercussions for", "dire ramifications for", or "grave outcomes for" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "catastrophic consequences for"?

It is appropriate when the potential outcomes are extremely severe, widespread, and irreversible. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact, so reserve it for genuinely critical situations.

What is the difference between "serious consequences" and "catastrophic consequences for"?

"Serious consequences" implies significant negative effects, while "catastrophic consequences for" suggests that the effects are devastating, irreversible, and extremely widespread. The latter is much more severe.