Catastrophe vs. désastre

Question

The former was accepted but not the latter. Is désastre really not acceptable? What is the distinction ?

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Frank,
You're right that "désastre naturel" is a valid option. Thanks to you, it has now been added to the alternative answers.
Merci de votre excellente contribution !
Bonne journée !

Answer

Catastrope means a disaster (figurative or real), tragedy (depending on context), and a tragedy (in the context of plays in literature).Désastre means a disaster (that causes immense grievance), a flop (in the context of film), and a complete failure. When it comes to their meaning, the latter sounds a bit more harsh compared to the former.