catastrophic

Causing a catastrophe, or a large disaster. Disastrous.

Walking into that trashcan was completely catastrophic for our relationship.

by A. Os May 1, 2006

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.

by The Logical Fallacy August 19, 2018

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.

by ballistickitten July 22, 2008

Catastrophous

An overturning misfortune that turns into a fiasco that makes you lose sight of your original purpose or plan.

OR

In poker terms-When your plan of bluffing with complete air, nothing that resembles a hand, blows up in your face and puts you out of the tourney.

Man, I can't believe that play didn't work against that guy. That was catastrophous

by BigSkinnyExpress March 25, 2011

catastrophe

A real elmore like with hurricane katrina. Can happen in nature or can be a human fuck up or some combination thereof.

Katrina was a natural catastrophe made worse by how Bush elmored it up.

by Mmmm Lewinsky September 26, 2007

Catastrophe

A group of three or more Karens. Cf. a pod of whales, a gaggle of geese, etc.

My boyfriend and I sat down to eat our lunch but didn’t notice the Catastrophe of Karens at the table next to us until it was too late. They were discussing how the “African girl” behind the counter only gave them one packet of mayonnaise each and deciding who was going to tell the manager.

by HM2013 July 23, 2020

Catastrophize

To Catastrophize is to make a situation seem worse than what it actually is.

After you buddy spends 15 minutes complaining about how "crappy" his day was you can turn and tell him to stop Catastrophizing and get on with it.

A friend who is melodramatic would catastrophize a lot.

by Echo Bravo April 15, 2008