calamity — an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster
Pronunciation (IPA): /kəˈlæməti/
Example Sentences
- My cooking attempt turned into a culinary calamity when I accidentally used salt instead of sugar.
- The stock market crash was an economic calamity that affected millions.
- His attempt at cutting his own hair resulted in a follicular calamity.
calamity
NOUN[/kəˈlæməti/]
an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster
The sudden flood became a calamity that destroyed the entire village.
"Call Amity!" the rescue leader shouted as the community united after the calamity. (Everyone comes together in friendship (amity) to overcome the calamity.)
The calamity brought humanity together in unity to rebuild the town.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'calamitas,' possibly derived from 'calamus' (reed or stalk) or related to 'caelare' (to cut down). The word originally referred to damage to crops or harvest failure before expanding to mean disaster in general.
Breakdown
Latin 'calamitas' (disaster/loss) + English suffix '-ity' (state or condition of) = calamity (a state of disaster or great distress)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cooking attempt turned into a culinary calamity when I accidentally used salt instead of sugar.”
“The stock market crash was an economic calamity that affected millions.”
“His attempt at cutting his own hair resulted in a follicular calamity.”
“The hurricane brought calamity to the coastal communities.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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