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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
The shooting in our nation’s capital was a tragedy.
—
Sediqa Fahimi, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
The company has faced delays, technical challenges and even tragedy.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
With Israel warning Iranians not to take trains today, and Iranian officials urging its people to surround power plants as human shields, the next few hours may hold terrible tragedies.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
The album’s ideal love is anesthetic, a script for surviving daily chaos and tragedy that doesn’t require reciprocation.
—Daniel Felsenthal, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Sediqa Fahimi, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
The company has faced delays, technical challenges and even tragedy.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
With Israel warning Iranians not to take trains today, and Iranian officials urging its people to surround power plants as human shields, the next few hours may hold terrible tragedies.
—Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 7 Apr. 2026
The album’s ideal love is anesthetic, a script for surviving daily chaos and tragedy that doesn’t require reciprocation.
—Daniel Felsenthal, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragedy
Noun
-
Taken to an extreme, an ever-evolving idea of retirement could outlive drastic institutional change, perhaps enduring longer than the institutions of American democracy or beyond climate disaster.—
Trevor Jackson,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Steve DeJong will retire from the Homewood Fire Department after more than two decades to accept a position at MABAS Illinois, the statewide mutual aid and disaster response coordinator.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Azzi Fudd looks to rebound All-American Azzi Fudd struggled in UConn’s blowout win over UNC, and had a quiet first half versus the Fighting Irish with only four points and more turnovers (4) than assists (3), but despite her misfortune the Huskies still led at halftime.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
-
His misfortune derailed last season.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For certain great artists, Meis believes, the creative act is a safe harbor where life’s pressures, exigencies, and calamities aren’t so much denied or resolved as reimagined as pictorial dramas.—
Jed Perl,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The calamity in the Atlanta race quickly drew comparisons to other errors, where leaders have mistakenly followed lead cars exiting the race course shortly before the finish.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But none of this means the robot apocalypse is imminent.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
-
With its mix of Norse mythology, eighteenth-century cryptozoology, nineteenth-century science fiction, and the biblical apocalypse, the poem tells of something tragic and mysterious lying just beyond the bounds of human knowing.—
Kathryn Hughes,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tragedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragedy. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
