C1adjective 2K

Disastrous

UK /["/dɪˈzɑːstrəs/"]/ US /["/dɪˈzæstrəs/"]/ Pronunciation

Definition

very bad, harmful or unsuccessful

Listen to definition

In simple words: very bad or harmful

Examples

• a disastrous harvest/fire/result
• Lowering interest rates could have disastrous consequences for the economy.
• It was a disastrous start to the season for the team.
• This could have equally disastrous consequences.
• The church was rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1824.
• The war ended in 1815 but was followed by a series of disastrous harvests.

Usage notes

Use 'disastrous' to describe situations or events that have very negative outcomes. It's neutral and suitable for both spoken and written contexts, but avoid using it in overly casual conversations.

Grammar pattern

disastrous + noun

Memory hint

Think of 'disaster' — something disastrous is like a disaster, causing chaos.

Collocations

• be
• prove
• become
• absolutely
• completely
• quite

Synonyms

• catastrophic, devastating

Antonyms

• beneficial
• advantageous
• favorable

Common mistakes

• Confusing 'disastrous' with 'disastrous' and using it to describe mild problems.
• Using 'disastrous' as a synonym for 'bad' without context.
• Mispronouncing the word, emphasizing incorrect syllables.