disastrous incident

USAGE SUMMARY

"disastrous incident" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an event that had disastrous consequences. Example: The Titanic sinking was a disastrous incident that claimed the lives of over 1,500 passengers.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

After a disastrous incident, June (now working for the police), hunts down Day, who's The Republic's number one wanted criminal.

The Guardian

The most disastrous incident by far was the 1984 chemical release in Bhopal, India, which killed more than 3,000 people and injured 200,000.

The New York Times

Carrère recounts this disastrous incident with searing honesty, but is much less clear on what drove him to combine the material with the stories of Anya and his grandfather.

The Guardian - Books

There are no bullet scars here, but 24 hours earlier a disastrous incident led to claims that five Iraqi men died under British gunfire and sparked the later firefight at the police station.

The Guardian

The case allows for discussion on how to respond to a public relations crisis, salvage brand equity after a disastrous incident, react to a situation and pre-empt damaging information in the media.

Harvard Business Review

Mr Maliki and Iraq's elected government happen to reject this point and many others besides (as of today, they count 20 Iraqi civilians killed; many other forensic matters are left in dispute).But whatever the facts of this particular disastrous incident, the heart of the matter has nothing to do with the bloody details of this weekend's shooting.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

API argued that the rule, which followed several disastrous incidents at chemical plants, would be burdensome and do little to improve safety.

The Guardian

Even before Finicum's death, the HRT had played a role in disastrous incidents — including the raids at Ruby Ridge in Idaho and Waco, Tex.

The Washington Post

The case is made that the adoption of programs that safeguard human health and ecological systems was primarily due to a series of disastrous incidents and then regulations were enacted.

Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies

Nor is there yet any serious evidence that it's being used to coordinate international military or diplomatic strategy in Syria, despite the clear risk of potentially disastrous incidents, such as the shooting down of a Russian military aircraft by Turkish forces.

The Guardian - Opinion

All of these events demonstrate the need to research and determine precursors of potentially disastrous incidents at major offshore oil platforms such as Qatar's PS-2 and PS-3, operating within the Maydan Mahzam and Bul Hanine fields, respectively, and also many platforms that are expected to operate in the North Gas Field of Qatar and Iran's South Pars Field in the future.

International Journal of Disaster Risk Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "disastrous incident", ensure the context clearly establishes the negative consequences and impact of the event. Be specific about what made the incident disastrous.

Common error

Avoid using "disastrous incident" for minor inconveniences. The phrase implies significant negative impact, so reserve it for situations where the consequences are truly severe.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "disastrous incident" functions as a noun phrase where "disastrous" modifies the noun "incident". Ludwig shows that it is used to describe an event characterized by highly unfavorable or destructive consequences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "disastrous incident" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe an event with significantly negative consequences. Ludwig indicates that it is most commonly found in news and media, as well as science-related content. Though not a highly frequent phrase, its usage is appropriate for both formal and neutral registers when highlighting the severity and impact of a situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable and correct in written English, serving to emphasize the calamitous nature of a particular event. When using this phrase, ensure the context reflects the true severity of the event to avoid misuse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

catastrophic event

Replaces 'disastrous' with 'catastrophic', emphasizing the scale of the disaster.

tragic occurrence

Substitutes 'disastrous incident' with a phrase highlighting the sad or mournful nature of the event.

devastating episode

Replaces 'disastrous' with 'devastating', underlining the destructive impact of the event.

calamitous situation

Changes 'disastrous incident' to a phrase suggesting a grave or unfortunate state of affairs.

terrible crisis

Emphasizes the urgency and potential danger of the event.

unfortunate event

Uses more neutral terms, softening the severity while still referring to something negative.

critical failure

Highlights the aspect of failing to meet expectations or intended outcomes.

major setback

Focuses on the hindering or delaying aspect of the event, rather than its overall disaster.

grievous happening

A more formal and somewhat archaic way to describe a serious and unfortunate event.

severe adversity

Refers to a condition marked by misfortune or hardship.

FAQs

How to use "disastrous incident" in a sentence?

Use "disastrous incident" to describe an event with significantly negative consequences. For example, "The oil spill was a "disastrous incident" that harmed the marine ecosystem."

What can I say instead of "disastrous incident"?

You can use alternatives like "catastrophic event", "tragic occurrence", or "devastating episode" depending on the specific context and impact of the incident.

What makes an incident "disastrous"?

An incident is considered "disastrous" when it results in significant harm, damage, or loss. This could involve loss of life, environmental destruction, economic collapse, or severe disruption of normal activities.

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

Yes, "disastrous incident" is appropriate for formal writing when accurately describing an event with severe negative consequences. Ensure the tone and language remain objective and professional.