# disastrous

/dɪˈzæstɹəs/ (US) · /dˌɪsˈæstɹəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disastrous
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. catastrophic or failing

adjective · CEFR B2

causing great damage, harm, or very bad results.

For teachers: resulting in a disaster; characterized by catastrophic failure or significant negative consequences.

- The heavy rain had a disastrous effect on the outdoor concert.
- The company's decision to ignore the market warnings proved disastrous, leading to a total collapse of their share price within months.

### 2. unlucky or ill-omened

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

suggesting that something very bad is going to happen.

For teachers: portending or foreboding disaster; having the character of an ill omen.

- The dark clouds felt like a disastrous sign before the long journey.
- In the opening scene of the play, the disastrous alignment of the stars serves as a warning of the tragedy to come.

## Examples

- The heavy rain had a disastrous effect on the crops.
- The company's decision to ignore customer feedback proved disastrous for their reputation and sales.
- Historians often debate whether the general's disastrous retreat was a result of poor intelligence or a fundamental misunderstanding of the local terrain.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.