disastrous

USAGE SUMMARY

'disastrous' is a perfectly acceptable word in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has had serious negative consequences, as in, "The effects of the hurricane were disastrous, with many homes and businesses destroyed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The grievances aren't unreasonable, on either side, but the focus on fairness, by making it harder to reach any kind of agreement at all, could prove disastrous.

The New York Times

While bombs did some damage, they did nothing compared with a disastrous postwar planner, Rowland Nicholas, who sought to demolish much of the city – even the town hall – to rebuild a socialist utopia.

The Guardian

Hugo Lloris believes France have repaired the damage from their disastrous World Cup in 2010 and regained the trust of the public at home.

The Guardian - Sport

Morgan replaced him but this campaign got off to a disastrous start with heavy defeats handed out by Australia in Melbourne and New Zealand in Wellington, a match that lasted around half the allotted overs in total, before the first win was gained against Scotland in Christchurch.

The Guardian - Sport

All of this means that the plummeting rouble is likely to have a disastrous effect on everyone, not just the lucky few who have become accustomed to weekending in the south of France.

The Guardian

But it was a disastrous day for Yeovil who appear destined for the drop after conceding three second-half goals to Chesterfield to give up a 2-0 lead.

The Guardian - Sport

Cook will not be going to the Caribbean and has two months to sift the debris of a disastrous tour and work also on his batting after a mediocre return in both formats.

The Guardian - Sport

Another night, I drunk-dialed a random guy I'd met online – and with whom I'd been on one (and only one) disastrous date – inviting him over and begging him to stay the night.

The Guardian - Opinion

What's more, a total crackdown on the trade could prove disastrous for local communities who have few alternative sources of protein and income.

The Guardian - Opinion

3.46pm: Tavish Scott says he has quit because of the "disastrous" result in the Scottish parliament elections.

The Guardian

Latin America was the first to experience the disastrous impact of neoliberal dogma and the first to revolt against it.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "disastrous", ensure the context clearly indicates the negative consequences and severity of the situation. Provide specific details about the impact to emphasize the extent of the disaster.

Common error

Avoid using "disastrous" to describe minor inconveniences or setbacks. Reserve it for situations that genuinely involve significant negative consequences or widespread damage. Overusing the word weakens its impact when describing truly calamitous events.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "disastrous" functions to qualify a noun, indicating that it is of the nature of a disaster or has extremely negative consequences. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in describing various events, situations and failures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sport

15%

Opinion

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "disastrous" is an adjective used to describe events or situations characterized by extremely negative consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Found most commonly in news and media, as well as sports and opinion pieces, it effectively conveys the severity and calamitous nature of a situation. While related terms like "catastrophic" and "devastating" offer similar meanings, "disastrous" serves as a versatile and impactful descriptor when used appropriately. Remember to reserve "disastrous" for significant events to maintain its descriptive power.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

catastrophic

Implies a sudden and widespread disaster or calamity; more dramatic than "disastrous".

calamitous

Similar to catastrophic, but emphasizes the tragic or grievous nature of the disaster.

devastating

Highlights the overwhelming and destructive impact of an event or situation.

ruinous

Focuses on the destructive effect, particularly on something that was previously valuable or stable.

ill-fated

Suggests a destiny of failure or misfortune, often implying a lack of control over events.

unfortunate

A milder term indicating bad luck or adverse circumstances, less severe than "disastrous".

terrible

A general term for something very bad or unpleasant, less specific than "disastrous".

awful

Similar to terrible, indicating something extremely unpleasant or of poor quality.

fateful

Implies that an event has far-reaching and unalterable consequences, often with a sense of doom.

unsuccessful

Describes a lack of success or a failure to achieve a desired outcome; broader in scope than "disastrous".

FAQs

How can I use "disastrous" in a sentence?

Use "disastrous" to describe events or situations with extremely negative outcomes. For example, "The company's new marketing campaign was a "complete failure", resulting in a disastrous loss of revenue."

What can I say instead of "disastrous"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "disastrous" include "catastrophic", "devastating", "calamitous", or "ruinous". Each emphasizes slightly different aspects of the negative impact.

What is the difference between "disastrous" and "unfortunate"?

"Disastrous" implies severe negative consequences and widespread damage, while "unfortunate" suggests bad luck or mild adversity. A cancelled meeting might be unfortunate, but a major earthquake causing widespread destruction would be disastrous.

Is it appropriate to use "disastrous" in formal writing?

Yes, "disastrous" is appropriate for formal writing when accurately describing a situation with significantly negative consequences. However, ensure that the severity of the situation justifies the use of such a strong term. Avoid using it hyperbolically for minor issues.