1
as in disaster
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction
the earthquake and the ensuing damage was the worst tragedy to ever befall the city
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misfortune
bad luck or an example of this
it's the tragedy of many great artists not to be recognized for their genius until after they're dead
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tragedy
The sisters also want to see change from this tragedy.
—
Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 26 Sep. 2025
The confirmation ends a monthslong saga punctuated by a family tragedy that touched an entire community.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
The now-viral clip, shared in September by @tofusnob, shows the small tabby kitten in her home, watching the fish swim in the tank before tragedy struck.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
The tragedy is that people often can’t see both sides at the same time.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 26 Sep. 2025
The confirmation ends a monthslong saga punctuated by a family tragedy that touched an entire community.
—Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
The now-viral clip, shared in September by @tofusnob, shows the small tabby kitten in her home, watching the fish swim in the tank before tragedy struck.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
The tragedy is that people often can’t see both sides at the same time.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragedy
Noun
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In the area of Eaton Fire, the pace of permit approvals is much quicker than before the disaster — an average of 72 days, compared with about eight months previously.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The agency is still investigating the disaster and hosted a series of hearings on the matter over the summer.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Cincinnati was in jeopardy of a three-game sweep, but Marte's catch and his RBI single in the fifth inning helped the Reds avoid that misfortune.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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Finally, there is Edward (Louis Partridge), the youngest brother, who has followed dutifully in Benjamin’s footsteps and has his own unique ideas, but has the sole misfortune of his birth order.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Believe it or not, the zombie apocalypse has reached the MCU.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Sep. 2025
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There's more to come, too, from a classic 1980s Disney flick coming to streaming for the first time to the zombie apocalypse seen through an LGBTQ lens.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But earlier this month, President Lee Jae-myung told Reuters such requirements would trigger a calamity similar to the one that eventually required an International Monetary Fund bailout.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
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Parts of the southeastern United States are bracing for the impacts of Tropical Storm Imelda, just one year after Hurricane Helene tore through the region, leaving casualties and calamity in its wake.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tragedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragedy. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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