catastrophic costs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "catastrophic costs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe expenses or losses that are extremely high and have severe negative consequences. Example: "The company faced catastrophic costs due to the unexpected natural disaster, leading to significant financial strain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The new system must protect against catastrophic costs.

The Guardian - Opinion

The government would also assume the bit of health insurance that covers catastrophic costs.

The Economist

This does not take into account the catastrophic costs of environmental damage.

The Guardian - Opinion

Health policy experts say insurers can lower premiums if state reinsurance programs protect them against the risk of catastrophic costs.

The New York Times

But, if the alternative is a war with catastrophic costs, then gaps in our knowledge should make a different case.

The New Yorker

But neither the federal government nor any state requires all households to protect themselves from the potentially catastrophic costs of a serious accident or illness.

The New Yorker

"His ideology is steeped with anti-Semitism, and if he could, without catastrophic costs, inflict great harm on Israel, I'm confident that he would," the President said.

The New Yorker

A 1988 law protecting against catastrophic costs caused such an outcry among older Americans, who faced an extra tax, that Congress quickly repealed it.

The New York Times

So far, the changes the president has proposed do not go as far as a single deductible and a cap on catastrophic costs.

The New York Times

Such a government-administered plan would protect people from catastrophic costs, and hospital costs are an area where great savings could be found.

The New York Times

Insurers would be required to accept all applicants and offer community rates, with the government underwriting catastrophic costs above a defined level.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In environmental discussions, use "catastrophic costs" to underscore the long-term financial implications of ecological damage, prompting consideration of preventative measures.

Common error

Avoid using "catastrophic costs" to describe merely expensive situations. Reserve it for scenarios where the financial impact is genuinely devastating and potentially life-altering.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "catastrophic costs" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig indicates the correctness of the phrase. It describes expenses that are extremely high and have severe negative consequences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

47%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "catastrophic costs" refers to expenses that are extremely high and have devastating consequences. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is accurate and widely used in English. It's most commonly found in scientific and news contexts, and its primary function is to emphasize the severity of financial burdens. When writing, reserve it for situations where the financial impact is genuinely ruinous, and consider using alternatives like "ruinous expenses" or "devastating financial impact" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ruinous expenses

Replaces 'costs' with 'expenses', suggesting a financial burden that leads to destruction or failure.

devastating financial impact

Focuses on the 'impact' rather than the 'costs', emphasizing the severely damaging effects on finances.

crippling expenditure

Highlights the restrictive effect of the expense, implying it severely limits financial capabilities.

prohibitive price

Shifts the focus to the 'price' being so high it prevents purchase or action.

astronomical outlay

Uses 'outlay' to describe the expenditure, suggesting a very large and almost unbelievable amount of money.

crushing debt

Changes the focus to 'debt', emphasizing the overwhelming burden caused by borrowing.

unsustainable financial burden

Highlights the 'burden' aspect, emphasizing the inability to maintain the financial load.

insurmountable fiscal challenges

Focuses on 'challenges' that are too great to overcome financially.

debilitating monetary losses

Emphasizes the weakening effect of the financial losses.

astounding economic repercussions

Shifts focus to the wider 'repercussions' or consequences, rather than just the initial cost.

FAQs

How can I use "catastrophic costs" in a sentence?

You can use "catastrophic costs" to describe situations where expenses are so high they lead to severe hardship, such as, "The family faced "catastrophic costs" due to the unexpected medical emergency".

What's a good alternative to "catastrophic costs"?

Depending on the context, you could use "ruinous expenses", "devastating financial impact", or "crippling expenditure" as alternatives to "catastrophic costs".

What kind of events typically lead to "catastrophic costs"?

"Catastrophic costs" often arise from events such as major health crises, natural disasters, or large-scale environmental damage, where the financial repercussions are extreme and long-lasting.

How do insurance policies help with "catastrophic costs"?

Insurance policies, especially those with "catastrophic coverage", are designed to protect individuals and businesses from the potentially devastating financial impact of unforeseen and extremely costly events.