catastrophe
Definitions of catastrophe
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an event resulting in great loss and misfortunetypes:déferlement, raz-de-maréean unusual (and often destructive) rise of water along the seashore caused by a storm or a combination of wind and high tidedéferlement, raz-de-maréea cataclysm resulting from a destructive sea wave caused by an earthquake or volcanic eruptiontype of:malchanceunnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event
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a cause of great suffering and distresssynonyms: malheurtypes:martyreany experience that causes intense sufferingfléausomething causing misery or deathictusa sudden occurrence (or recurrence) of a diseasepetite crisea slight attack of illnessapoplexiea sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brainocclusionclosure or blockage (as of a blood vessel)crise cardiaquea sudden severe instance of abnormal heart functiontype of:difficultéan event causing distress or pain
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a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortunesynonyms: désastre
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Word Family
Vocabulary lists containing catastrophe
Break It Down: Cata
Learn these words derived from the Greek root kata-, which has a range of meanings including "down," "through," "against" "across," "along with," and "wrongly."
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Don't Distress: Words With Irregular Opposites
Up, down, left, right: many words have easy opposites that we all know. Or sometimes we just add un-, anti-, or dis- in front of a word and that takes care of it. But what about words that don't follow the rules? Check out this list and see how many you know!