C2adverbenvironmentbusiness
US/ˌkæt.əˈstrɑːf.ɪ.kəl.i/
UK/ˌkæt.əˈstrɒf.ɪ.kəl.i/
in a way that causes sudden and very serious damage or failure
In context
The plan failed catastrophically within the first week.
Things went catastrophically wrong when the power went out during the surgery.
The team had catastrophically underestimated how many people would come.
Words that go with catastrophically
verb + adverb
- fail catastrophicallyThe old bridge could fail catastrophically in a flood.
- collapse catastrophicallyThe market collapsed catastrophically in just two days.
adverb + adjective
- catastrophically wrongThe launch went catastrophically wrong.
- catastrophically badThe reviews were catastrophically bad.
- catastrophically lowWater levels in the lake are catastrophically low.
adverb + verb
- catastrophically underestimatePlanners catastrophically underestimated the risk of flooding.