English Meaning & Definitions
An event causing great and sudden damage or suffering; a disaster.
- “O terremoto foi uma verdadeira catástrofe para a cidade.”
- “Medidas urgentes foram tomadas para evitar uma catástrofe ambiental.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “catástrofe”.
Derived from the ancient Greek 'katastrophē' (καταστροφή), meaning 'an overturning' or 'sudden turn', composed of 'kata-' (down) and 'strophē' (a turning, from strephein 'to turn'). Historically used in drama to denote the denouement or fatal turning point of a plot, it evolved in European languages to describe any sudden and widespread disaster.
Think of a 'cat' creating a 'trophy' level disaster by knocking over your most expensive vase.
Frequently Asked Questions About “catástrofe”
1. What is the meaning of “catástrofe” in English?
In English, catástrofe (noun) is defined as: “An event causing great and sudden damage or suffering; a disaster.”.
2. How do you use “catástrofe” in a sentence?
“O terremoto foi uma verdadeira catástrofe para a cidade.”
3. What are English synonyms of “catástrofe”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “catástrofe”?
Derived from the ancient Greek 'katastrophē' (καταστροφή), meaning 'an overturning' or 'sudden turn', composed of 'kata-' (down) and 'strophē' (a turning, from strephein 'to turn'). Historically used in drama to denote the denouement or fatal turning point of a plot, it evolved in European languages to describe any sudden and widespread disaster.