Synonyms
Examples of calamity in a Sentence
Twenty two years passed. Twenty-two years of excellent health and the boundless self-assurance that flows from being fit—twenty-two years spared the adversary that is illness and the calamity that waits in the wings.
—
Phillip Roth, Everyman, 2006
A resentment born of the suspicion that all along the media were up to their usual tricks, hyping a national calamity to the max in order to make us buy more copies and tune into TV specials …
—Christopher Buckley, Time, 29 Nov. 1999
In the wake of this year's unending calamities, there has been renewed discussion of the need for an international rapid deployment force that can kick down doors to help victims of disasters.
—Kathleen Hunt, New York Times Magazine, 28 July 1991
floods, earthquakes, and other calamities
He predicted calamity for the economy.
Phillip Roth, Everyman, 2006
A resentment born of the suspicion that all along the media were up to their usual tricks, hyping a national calamity to the max in order to make us buy more copies and tune into TV specials …
—Christopher Buckley, Time, 29 Nov. 1999
In the wake of this year's unending calamities, there has been renewed discussion of the need for an international rapid deployment force that can kick down doors to help victims of disasters.
—Kathleen Hunt, New York Times Magazine, 28 July 1991
floods, earthquakes, and other calamities
He predicted calamity for the economy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tens of thousands of college students have been marching for nearly three months demanding those responsible for the calamity be held accountable and prosecuted accordingly.
—Chris Massaro, Fox News, 31 Jan. 2025
The conditions are harsh, with crazy winds and parched terrain cooking up one calamity after another, and anyone who isn’t on edge is either in denial, sedated or a renter.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
But this is far from the first time that the Academy has had to adapt to calamity.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025
No assessments have been levied by the California plan since 1995, the 2022 report noted, despite multiple high-cost calamities in the state.
—Gretchen Morgenson, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for calamity 
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Chris Massaro, Fox News, 31 Jan. 2025
The conditions are harsh, with crazy winds and parched terrain cooking up one calamity after another, and anyone who isn’t on edge is either in denial, sedated or a renter.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
But this is far from the first time that the Academy has had to adapt to calamity.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2025
No assessments have been levied by the California plan since 1995, the 2022 report noted, despite multiple high-cost calamities in the state.
—Gretchen Morgenson, NBC News, 19 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for calamity
Dictionary Entries Near calamity
Cite this Entry
“Calamity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calamity. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
calamity
noun
ca·lam·i·ty
kə-ˈlam-ət-ē 
plural calamities
1
: deep distress or misery
2
: an event that causes great harm
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