Definition

Causing great damage or suffering; very bad or unfortunate.

Example

The storm had disastrous effects on the small town, leaving many homes destroyed.

Conversation

Did you hear about the football game last night?

Yeah, it was disastrous for our team!

I can't believe they lost by such a huge margin.

I know, right? It was really hard to watch.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Disastrous is formed from "dis-" (meaning apart or away) and "astrum" (from Latin, meaning star). The word originally referred to events that were considered to be caused by unfavorable stars, hence something that brings misfortune or calamity.

Memory Tip

Think of 'dis-' meaning apart and 'astrum' relating to stars — this helps you remember that 'disastrous' refers to something that brings misfortune, as if the stars are not aligned in your favor.

Visually Confused Words