quite catastrophic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quite catastrophic" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that is significantly disastrous or has severe negative consequences. Example: "The hurricane caused quite catastrophic damage to the coastal towns, leaving many residents homeless."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

And quite catastrophic when you are looking for the light at the end of the tunnel... Writer actually requests Mamet come to New York to view his play & provide "a fresh overview of the evening"... "I've a better idea than me coming to New York," he said.

The New Yorker

Consequently, when there is an accident it can, he said, result in "something quite catastrophic".

BBC

Although resonance exotherms are transient phenomena, eventually leaving the reactor in a steady state, they can be quite catastrophic in the process, leading to very large temperature excursions if not properly handled.

Chemical Engineering Science

"There can be some quite catastrophic consequences if these concerns are not taken into account by policymakers," Women's Legal Service chief executive Angela Lynch told the Brisbane Times.

Vice

"(There is) a quite catastrophic situation we are facing today after three months of hostilities," Antoine Grand, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Yemen, told a U.N. briefing in Geneva by telephone from Sanaa.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The only really good way — so far — that anyone has been able to manage the challenge of imparting all that kinetic energy to a payload is by putting those payloads on very large, very lightweight structures filled with incredibly explosive fuel, and then burning that fuel very, very quickly in what amounts to a continual almost-but-not-quite-catastrophic explosion.

Vice

Sounds rather catastrophic.

Huffington Post

The cap situation is not quite as catastrophic as it appears right now.

The New York Times

It is also less spectacular or unhygienic, so occasional lapses are not quite so catastrophic.

The Guardian

Even if the European Central Bank (ECB) fought this with massive liquidity support, the crisis would shake already frail banks, especially in Spain (see article).A departure might not be quite as catastrophic for banks elsewhere in Europe as once it would have been.

The Economist

While it's not quite as catastrophic for an online game as a proper Christmas day outage, the time between Christmas and New Year's is sure to be a massive week for Epic's hit game.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quite catastrophic" to describe events or situations that have significant and widespread negative consequences, ensuring the context clearly indicates the scope and impact of the catastrophe. For a slightly softer tone, consider synonyms like "utterly disastrous" or "wholly devastating".

Common error

Avoid using "quite catastrophic" for minor inconveniences or problems. This phrase is best reserved for situations involving significant damage, loss, or widespread impact. Using it inappropriately can diminish its impact and make your writing seem hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite catastrophic" functions as an intensifier followed by an adjective, modifying a noun or noun phrase to emphasize the severity of a situation. It heightens the sense of disaster or devastation. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "quite catastrophic" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe situations of significant devastation or disaster. As Ludwig AI indicates, it serves to emphasize the severity of events, and is commonly found in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts. While not the most frequent expression, it provides a nuanced way to communicate the extent of damage or loss. When writing, reserve it for situations where the consequences are genuinely severe to maintain credibility and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly disastrous

Changes the qualifier to emphasize the completeness of the disaster.

wholly devastating

Replaces "catastrophic" with "devastating" and "quite" with "wholly" focusing on the destructive impact.

completely ruinous

Shifts from "catastrophic" to "ruinous", highlighting the destructive consequences in terms of ruin.

absolutely calamitous

Substitutes "catastrophic" with "calamitous", indicating a grave misfortune or disaster.

remarkably tragic

Focuses on the sorrowful and grievous nature of the event rather than sheer destruction.

seriously destructive

Emphasizes the high degree of damage caused.

exceptionally devastating

Highlights the extreme level of destruction and negative impact.

particularly disastrous

Indicates the event is notably worse than other disastrous events.

highly destructive

Highlights the extreme damage that was caused.

severely damaging

Emphasizes the intensity of the damage.

FAQs

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

Use "quite catastrophic" to describe situations with devastating consequences. For instance, "The economic impact of the pandemic was "quite catastrophic", leading to widespread business closures and job losses."

What are some alternatives to "quite catastrophic"?

Alternatives include "utterly disastrous", "wholly devastating", or "completely ruinous". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it okay to use "quite catastrophic" in formal writing?

Yes, "quite catastrophic" is appropriate for formal writing when accurately describing a situation with severe negative impacts. However, ensure the tone remains objective and avoids unnecessary exaggeration.

What makes "quite catastrophic" different from "catastrophic"?

The addition of "quite" softens the impact slightly, suggesting a high degree of catastrophe without being absolute. It implies a significant but potentially not total disaster. However, the difference is minimal and context-dependent.