catastrophically
gb/kˈætəstɹəfɪkəli/ us/kˈætəstɹəfɪkəli/
C1
English
katasztrofálisan, kritikusan, életveszélyesen
C1
1
Usage pattern:
[something] fails/breaks/goes wrong catastrophically
The bridge design failed catastrophically during the stress test.
A hídszerkezet a terheléses próba során katasztrofálisan meghibásodott.
A small software bug can escalate and cause the entire system to crash catastrophically.
Egy apró szoftverhiba súlyosbodhat, és az egész rendszer katasztrofálisan összeomolhat.
The plan backfired catastrophically, leaving the team without funding or support.
Learner examples
The engine failed catastrophically.
A motor katasztrofálisan meghibásodott.
The project went catastrophically wrong.
A projekt katasztrofálisan félresiklott.
Common mistake:
Often confused with 'dramatically' (big change) or 'tragically' (sad result); 'catastrophically' emphasizes severe damage or disaster.
Meaning
with disastrous consequences
Collocations
fail catastrophically
|go catastrophically wrong
|break down catastrophically
|collapse catastrophically
|malfunction catastrophically
|backfire catastrophically
|catastrophically damaged
|catastrophically bad outcome
|catastrophically unsafe
|catastrophically unsuccessful
Synonyms
disastrously (Most direct synonym; emphasizes disastrous results.)
|
calamitously (More formal; suggests large-scale misfortune.)
|
ruinously (Focuses on causing ruin, often financial or practical.)
Antonyms
safely (Without causing serious harm or disaster.)
|
successfully (With a positive outcome rather than failure.)
Themes
news
|risk
|technology
|safety
Definition
In a way that causes a very serious disaster.
In a way that causes or results in a disaster or extremely serious damage.
C1
2
Usage pattern:
catastrophically + [adjective] (e.g., wrong, misguided, naive)
The report was catastrophically wrong about the costs and the timeline.
A jelentés katasztrofálisan tévedett a költségeket és az ütemtervet illetően.
I was catastrophically unprepared for the interview.
Az interjúra katasztrofálisan felkészületlen voltam.
Their estimate turned out to be catastrophically optimistic.
Learner examples
My answer was catastrophically wrong.
A válaszom katasztrofálisan rossz volt.
He was catastrophically unprepared.
Katasztrofálisan felkészületlen volt.
Common mistake:
Not usually used for small problems; it implies an extreme or potentially serious level of badness.
Meaning
extremely badly or severely
Collocations
catastrophically wrong
|catastrophically mistaken
|catastrophically bad
|catastrophically unsuccessful
|catastrophically inadequate
|catastrophically flawed
|catastrophically mismanaged
|catastrophically underprepared
|catastrophically poor performance
|catastrophically misguided
Synonyms
terribly (More common and less specific about disaster-level consequences.)
|
awfully (Informal and often weaker in force.)
|
severely (More neutral; focuses on degree rather than disaster.)
Antonyms
slightly (Indicates a small degree, not an extreme one.)
|
minorly (Very small extent; opposite of extreme severity.)
Themes
daily_life
|education
|work
Definition
Very, very badly (used for emphasis).
To an extreme degree that makes a situation much worse; used to emphasize how bad an error, result, or condition is.
C2
TECHNICAL
3
kritikusan
B2
Usage pattern:
catastrophically + [adjective] (e.g., ill, injured, low, high)
After the crash, two passengers were catastrophically injured and needed immediate surgery.
A baleset után két utas életveszélyesen megsérült, és azonnali műtétre volt szükségük.
Without treatment, the infection can progress and blood pressure can drop catastrophically.
Kezelés nélkül a fertőzés súlyosbodhat, és a vérnyomás kritikusan leeshet.
In rare cases, oxygen levels can fall catastrophically during the night.
Learner examples
He was catastrophically injured in the accident.
A balesetben életveszélyesen megsérült.
Common mistake:
In health contexts it implies extreme danger; avoid using it for ordinary illness or minor injuries.
Meaning
at a life-threatening severity
Collocations
catastrophically ill
|catastrophically injured
|catastrophically low blood pressure
|catastrophically high fever
|catastrophically low oxygen levels
|catastrophically reduced blood flow
|catastrophically damaged tissue
|catastrophically compromised breathing
Synonyms
critically (Common in medical contexts; emphasizes immediate danger.)
|
dangerously (Broader and less absolute than 'catastrophically'.)
Antonyms
stably (Indicates a steady, not dangerously severe condition.)
|
mildly (Low severity rather than extreme severity.)
Themes
health
|medicine
|emergency
Definition
So severe that it may be life-threatening.
At a level of severity that causes or risks sudden, major harm, especially to health or vital functioning.
Grammar
Dictionary form
catastrophically
IPA
GB/kˈætəstɹəfɪkəli/
US/kˈætəstɹəfɪkəli/
Syllables & stress
cata - stroph - ic - ally (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (cata)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: catastrophically
- Plural: catastrophicallies
Word family
Forms
catastrophicallies
noun
Core family
catastrophe
noun B2
catastrophic
adjective C1
Expressions
catastrophically flawed
1/kˈætəstɹəfɪkəli flˈɔd/
fixed phrase
having major, fatal defects
With very serious problems that make it fail.
Examples
- The proposal was catastrophically flawed and couldn’t be approved.
- Their argument is catastrophically flawed because it ignores the main evidence.
- A catastrophically flawed design can put users at risk.
Learner examples
- The plan was catastrophically flawed.
catastrophically injured
1/kˈætəstɹəfɪkəli ˈɪnd͡ʒɚd/
fixed phrase
technical
injured in a life-threatening way
Very badly hurt, in a life-threatening way.
Examples
- Emergency crews arrived to find several people catastrophically injured.
- He was catastrophically injured and airlifted to a trauma center.
- The blast left two workers catastrophically injured.
catastrophically low
1/kˈætəstɹəfɪkəli lˈoʊ/
fixed phrase
dangerously far below normal
Extremely low in a dangerous way.
Examples
- By the end of the month, food supplies were catastrophically low.
- His blood sugar dropped catastrophically low during the night.
- Voter turnout was catastrophically low in several districts.
Learner examples
- Supplies are catastrophically low.
catastrophically wrong
1/kˈætəstɹəfɪkəli ɹˈɔŋ/
fixed phrase
extremely and seriously incorrect
Very wrong, in a serious way.
Examples
- The article was catastrophically wrong about what the law actually says.
- If you’re catastrophically wrong about the price, you could lose a lot of money.
- I thought the meeting was on Friday, but I was catastrophically wrong.
Learner examples
- I was catastrophically wrong about the date.
fail catastrophically
1/fˈeɪl kˈætəstɹəfɪkəli/
fixed phrase
fail suddenly and completely
To break or stop working very badly and suddenly.
Examples
- If the battery fails catastrophically, it can overheat and start a fire.
- The launch failed catastrophically, and the mission was cancelled.
- A single weak component can cause the whole machine to fail catastrophically.
Learner examples
- The system failed catastrophically.
go catastrophically wrong
1/ɡˈoʊ kˈætəstɹəfɪkəli ɹˈɔŋ/
fixed phrase
turn into a disaster
To become a very serious failure.
Examples
- The day started well, but everything went catastrophically wrong by lunchtime.
- If this goes catastrophically wrong, we’ll need an emergency backup plan.
- One missed step can make the whole process go catastrophically wrong.
Learner examples
- My plan went catastrophically wrong.