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catabstrophe 

An event that occurs when one continually opens new tabs in a web browser without closing old ones, causing the user to get lost and confused in the sheer number of open websites.

There are two primary elements that cause this:
1. Not closing them JUST IN CASE you will go back to them later, similar to pack rats
2. Laziness
Last night I went to check Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Fark, and all of my webcomics at the same time ... and before I knew it I had a catabstrophe on my hands! I didn't know which tab to click next!
catabstrophe by belgianrofls September 9, 2009
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Catastrophear

To feel an exaggerated fear or concern about something.
"Don't worry bro, she's gonna come back soon! Don't catastrophear!"

"I don't like to catastrophear. This situation could be worse"
Catastrophear by Phil-OoO October 7, 2016

catastrophic success 

An event or product that attracts so much interest and attention that it exceeds its own sustaining capacity, resulting in the inability of the organization to respond to demand.
The new product was such a hit that the store ran out, resulting in angry crowds destroying the mall. It was a catastrophic success for the company.
catastrophic success by ohlms March 10, 2009

Catastrophizing 

A psychotherapeutic term for a cognitive distortion where anxiety or depression leads you to infer apocalyptic conclusions from mundane setbacks and anxieties.
Catastrophizing usually comes in a litany of steps that start from a mundane setback all the way to absolute existential hoplessness. For instance:

1. Oh no, I'm going to be late for work.
2. My boss is going to be angry.
3. I'm going to lose my job.
4. I'm not going to be able to get another one.
5. I'm going to be unemployed forever.
6. My family will starve.
7. Oh God, we're all going to die!!!

Each step in the sequence is arguably plausible, but the snowball effect takes it into the realms of absurdity after a while.

catastrophilia 

A disorder characterized by a powerful and ongoing addiction to drama and catastrophe.
His secret longing for a devastating nuclear disaster was part of his intense catastrophilia.
catastrophilia by Dr Bunnygirl February 1, 2019

chatastrophe

A chatastrophe is any typically sudden, disastrous event that occurs during online chat- whether in chat rooms or private messaging.
Room Two was noted as a peaceable room of cozy fellowship chat amongst civilized habitués. After Room One experienced the chatastrophe of a vengeful bot-loading booter, Room One chatters jumped ship and found their way over to Room Two like so many flotsam-borne rats. This sat uneasily upon the regulars of Two, as the Oners were a virtual rogues gallery of the more virulent personality disorders. In their turn, the Room Two chatters regarded the influx of Oners as a chatastrophe.
chatastrophe by Mo Dixley February 13, 2010

catastrophize

to hyper-imagine negative outcomes to a situation that have no basis in reality. to blow setbacks or problems out of proportion such that you sprial into an emotional catastrophe.
Joe sat, stuck in traffic, and he began to catastrophize missing delivering the perfect sales pitch, losing the commission that he planned to spend on his new outfit that he would wear to the club to meet the perfect girl. He fell into despair as he realized how pointless his life was because of the traffic.
catastrophize by ballistickitten August 17, 2008
More from Urban Dictionary
The number of years you are still sexually active
While our lifespan is the number of years we will live, our healthspan is the number of healthy years we will have and our sexspan is is the number of years we will continue to be healthy enough to continue having an active sex life.
sexspan by Dr Kat April 21, 2022
Word of the Day on October 28, 2026
A lighthearted reaction upon receiving disappointing news of some sort. Usually something that isn't a particularly a big deal, esp. when it primarily affects someone else - sort of a mild schadenfreude. Sometimes doubled or tripled, and possibly said in a sing-songy voice for added comedic effect to imitate a muted trumpet, which is how the meme originated.
You didn't get any napkins with your takeout pork fried rice? Womp womp.
womp by 175623226 November 3, 2011
Word of the Day on October 27, 2026
When your wife’s boyfriend let you sleep past 8pm 😎😎
Wife’s boyfriend: You have 5 more minutes
Me: Poggers!
Poggers by Just_Charles April 14, 2020
Word of the Day on October 26, 2026

Oblication 

A vacation, feeling more like an obligation, that involves visiting or staying with family.
So Joe where are you taking the kids for spring break vacation? We are going on an oblication to Boca to visit my mother-in-law.
Oblication by kimmerr May 5, 2011
Word of the Day on October 25, 2026

Surf Dracula Syndrome 

A phenomenon in film/television series, most notably streaming series, where the main premise is drawn out to such a point that it takes an entire season or more to get the parts of the series the audience is actually interested in seeing.

For example, if a series is titled "Surf Dracula," a majority of viewers would tune in expecting to see Dracula surfing by the first or second episode. However, the entire first season would instead be tedious padding and backstory before finally ending with Dracula surfing in the last five minutes of the season finale.
I watched "Smallville" on Netflix the other day. Dude, it was ten seasons of filler before he finally flew! Major Surf Dracula Syndrome!
Word of the Day on October 24, 2026

Northstarring

Finding your way back to the truth by fixing on one verified fact and working out from there, the way you navigate by the North Star when everything around you is spinning.
Rumours were flying everywhere, so she went northstarring — one checked fact at a time.
Northstarring by Light Bearer October 22, 2026
Word of the Day on October 23, 2026
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