Calamity Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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calamity
[kəˈlæmɪti ]
Definitions
natural disaster
An event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering; a disaster.
Synonyms
cataclysm, catastrophe, disaster, tragedy.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| calamity |
Use 'calamity' to describe a serious event causing great damage or distress, often over a period of time.
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| disaster |
Use 'disaster' to describe a sudden event causing great damage or loss of life, often associated with natural events but can also be figurative.
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| catastrophe |
Use 'catastrophe' to describe an event causing widespread destruction and suffering, often used in both literal (natural disasters) and metaphorical senses.
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| tragedy |
Use 'tragedy' to describe an event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, often involving death or serious injury, frequently used in personal or dramatic contexts.
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| cataclysm |
Use 'cataclysm' to describe a large-scale and violent event in the natural world, or a sudden, radical change in society.
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Examples of usage
- The earthquake was a calamity that destroyed the entire city.
- The tsunami brought about a calamity of massive proportions.
extreme misfortune
An event causing extreme distress or misfortune; a great misfortune or disaster.
Synonyms
adversity, difficulty, misfortune, mishap.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| calamity |
Used to describe an event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster. It typically refers to large-scale disasters or catastrophes.
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| misfortune |
Used to talk about an unfortunate condition, an event or incident that brings bad luck or creates problems. It emphasizes the element of bad luck.
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| adversity |
Refers to a state of continued difficulty or misfortune, often persistent and challenging obstacles in life or situations.
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| mishap |
Typically refers to a minor or small-scale unlucky accident or mistake. It doesn't usually describe severe situations.
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| difficulty |
Describes a state or condition of being hard to do, understand, or deal with. It is commonly used for everyday challenges or tasks.
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Examples of usage
- Losing his job was a calamity for him and his family.
- The unexpected illness was a calamity that they never saw coming.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Literature
- In many classic stories, calamities drive the plot forward, forcing characters to change or grow.
- Shakespeare often used calamity as a theme, showcasing the tragic consequences of human flaws, such as in 'Macbeth'.
- The term appears frequently in ancient texts, symbolizing fate’s turn against the protagonists.
History
- Natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes have long been termed calamities due to their widespread destruction.
- The Great Calamity of 1348 refers to the Black Death, which caused immense suffering across Europe.
- In the 20th century, both World Wars were considered calamities that reshaped nations and caused millions of deaths.
Psychology
- Research indicates that experiencing a calamity can lead to long-term psychological effects, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
- People often cope with calamities through collective support, showing resilience in community bonds.
- The perception of calamity can vary; what is devastating to one may be seen as a manageable event to another, influenced by individual circumstances.
Pop Culture
- Movies often depict calamities as thrilling events, like in disaster films where characters must survive against all odds.
- In video games, calamity-themed events often serve as turning points in a story, heightening stakes for players.
- Calamity has appeared in song lyrics across genres, highlighting human emotion in response to tragedy.
Origin of 'calamity'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from the Latin 'calamitas', which means loss or damage.
- In the 14th century, it was used in English to describe disasters that disturb lives and property.
- Originally, it referred to an agricultural disaster like a bad harvest.
The word 'calamity' originated from the Latin word 'calamitas', meaning 'damage, loss, disaster'. Over time, it came to be used in English to refer to any event causing great damage or distress. The concept of calamity has been present throughout human history, with various cultures experiencing natural disasters and other calamities. The word serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and often devastating nature of life.