Catastrophically
adverb
In a way that involves horrible damage or failure.
The project failed catastrophically.
Often appears as...
- fail catastrophically
- go catastrophically wrong
adverb
In a very dangerous and unfortunate way, putting lives at risk.
A bus crashed catastrophically, causing many casualties.
Often appears as...
- crash catastrophically
- be catastrophically injured
adverb
In a way that causes sudden, extreme harm or damage to the environment.
Pollution could catastrophically affect marine life.
Often appears as...
- affect catastrophically
- catastrophically disrupt
Usage tips
Disapproving
Academic
adverb
In a way that involves horrible damage or failure.
The project failed catastrophically.
Often appears as...
- fail catastrophically
- go catastrophically wrong
adverb
In a very dangerous and unfortunate way, putting lives at risk.
A bus crashed catastrophically, causing many casualties.
Often appears as...
- crash catastrophically
- be catastrophically injured
adverb
In a way that causes sudden, extreme harm or damage to the environment.
Pollution could catastrophically affect marine life.
Often appears as...
- affect catastrophically
- catastrophically disrupt
Usage tips
Disapproving
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Non-Literal Use
Sometimes 'catastrophically' can exaggerate a situation for dramatic effect rather than describe an actual disaster.
The actor forgot his lines catastrophically, ruining the play.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Use 'catastrophically' to show strong emotional responses to major failures or disasters.
Their relationship ended catastrophically, leaving both heartbroken.
Pro Tip 3/3Hyperbolic Speech
'Catastrophically' may be used to emphasize the gravity of a situation, even if it’s not truly catastrophic.
He was catastrophically late to the wedding.
Pro Tip 1/3Non-Literal Use
Sometimes 'catastrophically' can exaggerate a situation for dramatic effect rather than describe an actual disaster.
The actor forgot his lines catastrophically, ruining the play.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Use 'catastrophically' to show strong emotional responses to major failures or disasters.
Their relationship ended catastrophically, leaving both heartbroken.
Pro Tip 3/3Hyperbolic Speech
'Catastrophically' may be used to emphasize the gravity of a situation, even if it’s not truly catastrophic.
He was catastrophically late to the wedding.
Pro Tip 1/3Non-Literal Use
Sometimes 'catastrophically' can exaggerate a situation for dramatic effect rather than describe an actual disaster.
The actor forgot his lines catastrophically, ruining the play.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Use 'catastrophically' to show strong emotional responses to major failures or disasters.
Their relationship ended catastrophically, leaving both heartbroken.
Pro Tip 3/3Hyperbolic Speech
'Catastrophically' may be used to emphasize the gravity of a situation, even if it’s not truly catastrophic.
He was catastrophically late to the wedding.
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Video examples
The sound the universe...
that black holes are real astrophysical objects -- in fact they're the death state of very massive stars that collapse catastrophically at the end of their lifetime. Now our Sun will not collapse to a black hole. It's actually not massive enough. But if we did a little thought experiment --
Video examples
Saving Leatherback...
but in recent times their numbers have fallen catastrophically here however in the caribbean there is hope leatherback turtles leave the sea in
Video examples
The sound the universe...
that black holes are real astrophysical objects -- in fact they're the death state of very massive stars that collapse catastrophically at the end of their lifetime. Now our Sun will not collapse to a black hole. It's actually not massive enough. But if we did a little thought experiment --
Video examples
Saving Leatherback...
but in recent times their numbers have fallen catastrophically here however in the caribbean there is hope leatherback turtles leave the sea in
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Eskinder Nega
Ethiopian Journalist
Aggregate aid is to the Ethiopian economy what Obama's fiscal stimulus was to the American economy: minus these injections, both economies would suffer catastrophically. The theatrical blustering of the Ethiopian government notwithstanding, donor countries have a make-or-break power over the Ethiopia's prosperity.
Quote examples
David Autor
American Economist
In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded and crashed down to Earth less than two minutes after takeoff. The cause of that crash, it turned out, was an inexpensive rubber O-ring in the booster rocket that had frozen on the launchpad the night before and failed catastrophically moments after takeoff.
Quote examples
Tony Judt
British Historian
What has gone catastrophically wrong in England and the States is that for 30 years we've lost the ability to talk about the state in positive terms. We've raised a generation or two of young people who don't think to ask, 'What can the state do that is good?
Quote examples
James May
English Journalist
I know there have been some catastrophically unpopular programmes on television over the years. Has it ever got to the point where the only person still interested in what's happening is the person who's on the telly?
Quote examples
Michael Frayn
English Playwright
You can create a good impression on yourself by being right, he realizes, but for creating a good impression on others there's nothing to beat being totally and catastrophically wrong.
Quote examples
Sarah Alexander
English Actress
I think we all love to watch something we know is going to go catastrophically wrong - the old banana skin syndrome, which is particular to the British sense of humour.
Quote examples
Emily Greene Balch
American Educator
The role of Italy and of Austria has diminished as has that of France and Britain; Germany and Japan have suffered catastrophically.
Quote examples
Drew Pinsky
American Celebrity
An Internet 'relationship' doesn't have to be catastrophically harmful to be inappropriate. Hurtful is bad enough.
Quote examples
Robert Metcalfe
American Inventor
The internet will catastrophically collapse in 1996.
Quote examples
Eskinder Nega
Ethiopian Journalist
Aggregate aid is to the Ethiopian economy what Obama's fiscal stimulus was to the American economy: minus these injections, both economies would suffer catastrophically. The theatrical blustering of the Ethiopian government notwithstanding, donor countries have a make-or-break power over the Ethiopia's prosperity.
Quote examples
David Autor
American Economist
In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded and crashed down to Earth less than two minutes after takeoff. The cause of that crash, it turned out, was an inexpensive rubber O-ring in the booster rocket that had frozen on the launchpad the night before and failed catastrophically moments after takeoff.
Quote examples
Tony Judt
British Historian
What has gone catastrophically wrong in England and the States is that for 30 years we've lost the ability to talk about the state in positive terms. We've raised a generation or two of young people who don't think to ask, 'What can the state do that is good?
Quote examples
James May
English Journalist
I know there have been some catastrophically unpopular programmes on television over the years. Has it ever got to the point where the only person still interested in what's happening is the person who's on the telly?
Quote examples
Michael Frayn
English Playwright
You can create a good impression on yourself by being right, he realizes, but for creating a good impression on others there's nothing to beat being totally and catastrophically wrong.
Quote examples
Sarah Alexander
English Actress
I think we all love to watch something we know is going to go catastrophically wrong - the old banana skin syndrome, which is particular to the British sense of humour.
Quote examples
Emily Greene Balch
American Educator
The role of Italy and of Austria has diminished as has that of France and Britain; Germany and Japan have suffered catastrophically.
Quote examples
Drew Pinsky
American Celebrity
An Internet 'relationship' doesn't have to be catastrophically harmful to be inappropriate. Hurtful is bad enough.
Quote examples
Robert Metcalfe
American Inventor
The internet will catastrophically collapse in 1996.
Example 1 of 9
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