disastrous
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
causing great damage, harm, or very bad results.
resulting in a disaster; characterized by catastrophic failure or significant negative consequences.
Simple“The heavy rain had a disastrous effect on the outdoor concert.”
In context“The company's decision to ignore the market warnings proved disastrous, leading to a total collapse of their share price within months.”
PitfallThe weather was disaster for our trip. The weather was disastrous for our trip.Use the adjective 'disastrous' to describe a noun, rather than the noun 'disaster'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
suggesting that something very bad is going to happen.
portending or foreboding disaster; having the character of an ill omen.
Simple“The dark clouds felt like a disastrous sign before the long journey.”
In context“In the opening scene of the play, the disastrous alignment of the stars serves as a warning of the tragedy to come.”
Antonyms
“Drainage layers need inspecting to prevent disastrous leaks that damage the building below.”
“But there is mounting evidence that the consequences of the Tory spending cuts are maturing with disastrous consequences.”
From disaster + -ous, after Middle French desastreux (modern French désastreux; from desastre (modern French désastre, “disaster”; from des- + astre, a calque of Italian disastro) + -eux), itself after Italian disastroso, from disastro + -oso, from dis- (“away, without”) (from Latin dis-) + astro (“star, planet”) (from Latin astrum (“star, celestial body”), from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓́στρον (ắstron)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.