Funest

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /fjuːˈnɛst/

Definitions

1. Bringing about death or severe harm, relating to events associated with great misfortune, and connected to circumstances that result in sadness or catastrophe
2. Associated with causing fatal outcomes or widespread damage, involved in situations characterized by profound adversity, and linked to instances that provoke grief or disaster
3. Producing fatal consequences or ruin ; indicative of great misfortune or calamity ; connected to events that inspire deep grief or distress

Etymology: "Funest" arrived in English from French "funeste," which itself came from Latin "fūnestus." The Latin word meant something like "deadly" or "bringing death," and it was formed from "fūnus," the word for a funeral or death. So at its root, this term is tied to the rites surrounding the dead: a thing that is "funest" is one that brings the funeral near. The French form kept that grim sense, and English adopted it with the same meaning of causing fatal disaster. The word is a fine example of how a funeral-related root can grow into a general word for catastrophe, with the death itself left implicit.

Synonyms: fatal, deadly, calamitous, disastrous, tragic

Antonyms: beneficial, fortunate, happy, joyful, lucky