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View synonyms for

calamity

[ kuh-lam-i-tee ]

noun

plural calamities.
  1. a great misfortune or disaster, as a flood or serious injury.

    Synonyms: , , , , ,

  2. grievous affliction; adversity; misery:

    the calamity of war.



calamity

/ əˈæɪɪ /

noun

  1. a disaster or misfortune, esp one causing extreme havoc, distress, or misery
  2. a state or feeling of deep distress or misery
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of calamity1

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English calamite, from Middle French, from Latin -, stem of (also kadamitas ) “crop failure, disaster,” of disputed origin; often considered to be derived from calam(us) “cane, reed” + - -ity ( def ), but perhaps instead akin to columus “sڱ,” ԳDZܳ “sڱٲ”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of calamity1

C15: from French é, from Latin ; related to Latin incolumis uninjured
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

There’s also discussion about moving around steelhead to create backup populations should calamity befall one, as well as boost genetic diversity of the rare fish.

From

How to sear into a reader’s brain the profound calamity of a dozen savage killings?

From

The second was another calamity, Vicario again culpable when he turned home striker Marshall Munetsi's tame header on to Spence when he could have held on, the ball rebounded back into his own goal.

From

They have acted in myopic and ruinous fashion, bringing calamity to the nation they purport to love.

From

But the official view from some is that the Oval Office meeting was not a calamity.

From

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calamitousCalamity Jane