disastrous
/dɪˈzæs.tɹəs/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.68 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Of the nature of a disaster; calamitous.
adj
Example Sentences
- "In addition, he was also able to reinforce the unease among progressive Democratic-leaning voters over Clinton’s disastrous pro-interventionist positions, thereby suppressing turnout and encouraging third party support in some key swing states that made the difference in his Electoral College victory."
- "A fearsome sight it was to behold how he swelled in his wrath, and his eyes blazed like disastrous stars at midnight, and being wood with anger he gnashed his teeth till the froth stood at his lips and slavered down his chin."
Etymology
From disaster + -ous, after Middle French desastreux (modern French désastreux; from desastre (modern French désastre, “disaster”; from des- + astre, a calque of Italian disastro) + -eux), itself after Italian disastroso, from disastro + -oso, from dis- (“away, without”) (from Latin dis-) + astro (“star, planet”) (from Latin astrum (“star, celestial body”), from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓́στρον (ắstron)).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /dɪˈzæs.tɹəs/
- British English: /dɪˈzɑː.stɹəs/