catastrophic
/kætəˈstɹɒfɪk/
Group 33Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering GRE
Example in Context
The failure of the dam had catastrophic consequences for communities downstream, destroying homes, farms, and infrastructure across a wide area.
Synonyms
devastatingdisastrousruinous
Etymology
Turning things downwards into chaos or disaster.
- kata- (Greek) — down
- strophe (Greek) — turn
Memory Aid
🐱🏝️Sounds like “cat as tropic”
A CAT AS TROPIC gets caught in a hurricane, creating a CAT-ASTROPHIC mess of fur and sand!
Visual Association
🔥A city engulfed in flames and debris as a massive storm wreaks havoc.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “catastrophic” mean on the GRE?
catastrophic (adjective) means “Involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering”. The failure of the dam had catastrophic consequences for communities downstream, destroying homes, farms, and infrastructure across a wide area.
How to remember “catastrophic” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “catastrophic” sounds like “cat as tropic”. A CAT AS TROPIC gets caught in a hurricane, creating a CAT-ASTROPHIC mess of fur and sand!
What are synonyms for “catastrophic”?
Common synonyms: devastating, disastrous, ruinous.