disastrous situation

USAGE SUMMARY

"disastrous situation" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation that is extremely bad or harmful. Example: The natural disaster left the town in a disastrous situation, with homes destroyed and no access to clean water.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It's a disastrous situation".

The Guardian

"I never looked at it as a disastrous situation.

The New York Times - Sports

B. Riley This is more a story about a collection of costumes in a disastrous situation.

The New York Times

"The industry's in a disastrous situation," said Josh Bernoff, a principal analyst at Forrester Research.

The New York Times

Parents fight at high volume, blaming each other for disastrous situation.

The New Yorker

It won't change the disastrous situation on the ground for now, but it is better than being silent.

The Guardian

This disastrous situation will not be corrected, as analysts at the center have noted, "by a modest recovery of the U.S. economy over the next few years".

The New York Times

"He has been able to use wit — or mockery, or impersonation, or irony — to try to govern every disastrous situation he is in".

The New York Times - Books

We need to understand why this is happening and what can still be done to turn around a nearly disastrous situation.

The New York Times

"He was probably more strident than his father was," said one American official, who characterized Gamal's role as "sugarcoating what was for Mubarak a disastrous situation".

The New York Times

This could, and often did, place victims in a disastrous situation: the rapist might be the commander, the man who had day-to-day power over her.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "disastrous situation", provide specific details to illustrate the extent and impact of the problem. Use vivid language to convey the severity and urgency of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "disastrous situation" repeatedly in the same text. Vary your language by using synonyms like "calamity", "catastrophe", or "crisis" to keep your writing engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "disastrous situation" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "disastrous" modifies the noun "situation". It describes a condition or set of circumstances characterized by extremely negative outcomes. Ludwig AI confirms this through its examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "disastrous situation" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to describe a significantly negative condition or set of circumstances. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely used across various contexts, especially in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, it conveys a strong sense of severity and urgency. To enhance writing, consider using synonyms such as "calamitous circumstances" or "catastrophic state of affairs" to avoid repetition. Always provide specific details when using this phrase to effectively illustrate the extent of the problem.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unmitigated disaster

Highlights the complete and absolute nature of the disaster.

calamitous circumstances

Replaces "situation" with "circumstances" and "disastrous" with the synonym "calamitous", emphasizing the severity of the events.

catastrophic state of affairs

Substitutes "situation" with "state of affairs" and uses "catastrophic" instead of "disastrous", amplifying the sense of large-scale damage.

dire predicament

Replaces "situation" with "predicament" and "disastrous" with "dire", denoting a difficult and dangerous situation.

critical crisis

Emphasizes the urgency and severity of the situation by using "critical crisis".

grave emergency

Highlights the seriousness of the situation by referring to it as a "grave emergency".

tragic development

Focuses on the sorrowful and unfortunate aspect of the unfolding situation.

terrible mess

Offers a more informal way to describe a "disastrous situation", highlighting the disorganization and unpleasantness.

hopeless case

Indicates that the "situation" is beyond recovery or repair.

unfavorable turn of events

Emphasizes the negative progression of events that led to the "disastrous situation".

FAQs

How can I effectively use "disastrous situation" in a sentence?

To effectively use "disastrous situation", make sure the context clearly indicates a severely negative or problematic scenario. For instance, "The hurricane created a "disastrous situation", leaving many homeless".

What are some alternatives to "disastrous situation"?

You can use alternatives like "catastrophic state of affairs", "dire predicament", or "grave emergency" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "disastrous situation" formal or informal?

"Disastrous situation" is considered relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for highly formal writing, alternatives like "calamitous circumstances" might be more appropriate.

Can "disastrous situation" apply to abstract concepts or only physical events?

"Disastrous situation" can apply to both. You can use it to describe a financial crisis (abstract) or the aftermath of an earthquake (physical event). The key is that the situation involves significant negative consequences.