[catastrophe [n]: from Latin catastropha, from Greek katastrophē ‘overturning, sudden turn’, from kata- ‘down’ + strophē ‘turning’ (from strephein ‘to turn’)]
-involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering or a sudden and large-scale alteration in the state of something.
-of or relating to geological catastrophism.
-extremely unfortunate or unsuccessful. Physical or financial ruin.
The meteor crashing into the moon was catastrophic: altering tides and weather, which in turn had disastrous consequences for every living thing on earth.