catastrophic
UK: ˌkæt.əˈstrɒf.ɪk | US: ˌkæt.əˈstrɑː.fɪk
adj. causing sudden and widespread disaster or suffering
adj. extremely unfortunate or unsuccessful
The word "catastrophic" originates from Greek katastrophē, meaning "an overturning" or "sudden turn." The morpheme cata- (Greek kata-) implies "down" or "against," while stroph (from strephein, "to turn") suggests a dramatic reversal. Combined with the suffix -ic, it forms an adjective describing events that "turn things upside down"—hence, disasters. The term evolved in the 18th century to emphasize large-scale calamities.
The earthquake had catastrophic effects on the region’s infrastructure.
A catastrophic failure in the engine caused the plane to crash.
Climate change could lead to catastrophic consequences for biodiversity.
The team’s catastrophic loss demoralized their fans.
Poor planning resulted in a catastrophic financial collapse.