Calamity vs Calumny: Meanings and How to Use in a Sentence

These two nouns have nothing in common. 

A calamity is a disaster—a terrible event of any kind:

The United States has suffered numerous calamities recently, ranging from wildfires and hurricanes to a pandemic and the following economic crisis.

Calumny, in contrast, is a high-style word for slander—intentionally spreading negative ideas about a person’s character, trying to give someone a bad reputation:

When he heard the calumny his enemies were spreading about him, he demanded a public inquiry in order to clear his good name.

Calumny is a fairly well-known word but a little too high-style to use in daily conversation, unless you are trying to write humor.

How to Use "Calamity" in a Sentence

1. Preliminary results of the investigation into the recent calamity indicate that the cause of the disaster was a large, anonymous donation given to the community by an unknown benefactor.
2. During the calamity of Hurricane Katrina, many people were forced to flee their homes in search of safety.
3. Many people were affected by the calamity in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria hit the island.
4. Calamity struck the village, and the people were forced to seek refuge in their church.
5. The aftermath of a calamity can often be a time of great hardship for the victims and their families.
6. Jack and Jane dating was a calamity waiting to happen.
7. Our relationship was in a state of calamity and trying to put the pieces back together was a daunting task.
8. After the calamity occurred, the townspeople tried to make sense of what it all meant.
9. In some cases, the effects of a calamity can last for many years after the event itself has passed.
10. Governments and agencies often work diligently to provide aid to those affected by a calamity.
11. The calamity led to a lot of changes and improvements in society, including the construction of levees to protect against future disasters.

How to Use "Calumny" in a Sentence

1. Calumny can be committed through the written word, such as in a letter or article, or it can be committed verbally.
2. Calumny has been used by many governments to control their citizens.
3. Calumny is a serious offense, and can lead to a civil lawsuit or even criminal charges. It is often used as a tool of revenge or intimidation, and can have a devastating effect on the victim's life.
4. He was accused of calumny via the press.
5. If you are the victim of calumny, it is important to seek legal help to protect your reputation and rights.
6. The person making the calumny is called a calumniator, while the person who is the target of the false statement is called a calumniated.
7. It is important to protect yourself against calumny by ensuring that your online presence is as credible and professional as possible.
8. To defend yourself from calumny, it is important to have good evidence to back up your claims, so think about how and where you store important documents and information.