tragedy

noun

ˈtra-jə-dē How to pronounce tragedy (audio)
Definition of tragedynext
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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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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tragedy Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is designed as an action flick as well as a portrait of a family dealing with tragedy and an insider’s look at an insular community that mocks harmful stereotypes without perpetrating them. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026 After the tragedy occurred, a family friend, Casey Bartels, created a GoFundMe on behalf of O’Brien and his family. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026 The tragedy is that the WNBA is sitting on an extraordinary opportunity. — Jonathan Flora Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026 That this particular kind of writing — and of seeing and explaining the world to readers — is going away with Swed, is truly a tragedy. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragedy
  1. disaster
  2. misfortune
  3. catastrophe
  4. calamity
  5. apocalypse
Noun
  • Although major questions remained unanswered on Thursday about the attacker and his motive, the story of ordinary passengers saving the FlyDubai flight from disaster has quickly become the stuff of legend.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Second were unarmed passengers who subdued the armed attacker before one pulled back on the yoke to level the aircraft, drawing on knowledge from an air-disaster documentary.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of disaster
Noun
  • In the greatest misfortune of a very unlucky life, Fantine (Noémie Merlant) stops at the tavern the Thénardiers run on her way to Montreuil with her angelic daughter Cosette.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Serendipity in the form of misfortune is shining on the Democratic Party’s electoral prospects.
    — Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of misfortune
Noun
  • Wrightwood residents are used to pulling together to face catastrophe.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Beginning after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and continuing to this day, smaller companies sprang up and took on big roles here, as national insurers pulled back rather than risk the financial catastrophe of another huge, damaging tropical system.
    — Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of catastrophe
Noun
  • The toxic loans were also packaged and peddled around the world to banks everywhere, resulting in a calamity.
    — Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
  • During each and every move, some sort of financial calamity resulted.
    — Sean Conlon, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of calamity
Noun
  • His character in Resident Evil serves the opposite role of the normie who simply does not want to acknowledge the unfolding of an apocalypse around him.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Continue reading … Who quit his job and predicted an AI apocalypse?
    — , FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of apocalypse

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tragedies
tragedy
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Cite this Entry

“Tragedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragedy. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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