catastrophic
pronunciation
How to pronounce catastrophic in British English:
UK [ ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk]
How to pronounce catastrophic in American English:
US [ ˌkætəˈstrɑːfɪk]
-
- Adjective:
- extremely harmful; bringing physical or financial ruin
Word Origin
- catastrophic (adj.)
- 1824, from catastrophe + -ic. Related: Catastrophical; catastrophically.
Example
- 1. Certainly , iraq was a catastrophic error of judgment .
- 2. The same lackadaisical but hardly catastrophic pattern continued through 1989 .
- 3. That catastrophic outlook comes from robert wiedemer , economist and author of the new york times best-seller aftershock .
- 4. Yet strike-slip quakes can still cause catastrophic damage .
- 5. The impact on investment is catastrophic .