Disastrous: Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide

Meaning 1：highly destructive (disastrous)

disastrous 🔊

/dɪˈzæstrəs/

adj.

Causing very bad results or a complete failure, like a small-scale disaster.

Disastrous student with low test score and dismayed expression

highly destructive 🔊

➕

/ˈhaɪli dɪˈstrʌktɪv/

adj.

Causing great harm, damage, or failure; extremely bad in outcome.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'dis-' (bad) + 'astrum' (star) + '-ous', meaning ill-starred.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'Dis' (bad) + 'aster' (star) – a bad star brings disaster; hence disastrous.

📖 Example

Staying up all night to cram for the exam was a disastrous idea; I was so tired I could barely read the questions. 🔊 Staying up all night to cram for the exam was a disastrous idea; I was so tired I could barely read the questions.

🔗 Collocations

disastrous consequences – very bad results

disastrous failure – a complete and harmful failure

disastrous decision – a choice that leads to great harm

🔄 Synonyms

catastrophic (adj.) – causing sudden and widespread disaster

devastating (adj.) – causing severe and overwhelming damage

ruinous (adj.) – leading to ruin or destruction

🚫 Antonyms

beneficial (adj.) – producing good results or favorable effects

successful (adj.) – achieving a desired outcome

favorable (adj.) – advantageous or positive in nature

🌱 Derivatives

disaster (n.) – a sudden event causing great damage or suffering

disastrously (adv.) – in a way that causes great harm or failure

📖 Cultural Story

Rooted in ancient astrology: a 'disastrous' event was blamed on a malevolent star. The word evolved from literal star-caused misfortune to any catastrophic outcome.