What's the difference between "catastrophe", "disaster" and "calamity"? Are they all interchangeable?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
Good question! "Catastrophe", "disaster", and "calamity" all have very similar meanings. The main difference between these words is that a "catastrophe" and a "disaster" refer to an event that is significant or destructive while a "calamity" is an event that usually results in loss of something. A "catastrophe" is also usually more severe or significant than a disaster. Although there are different nuances between these words, they are very similar and often used interchangeably.