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Catastrophe

usgb/kəˈtæstrəfi/Volume
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Sudden and SeverePlay
Use 'catastrophe' to describe events with immediate, widespread impact. SlideAfter the dam burst, the resulting flood was a catastrophe.
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Human SufferingPlay
Highlighting significant loss, physical suffering, or fatalities. SlideThe famine led to a human catastrophe, affecting millions.
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Not PersonalPlay
Refers usually to large-scale events, not personal misfortune. SlideLosing your phone is not a catastrophe; it's an inconvenience.