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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tragedy
Bunnarat said the tragedy should serve as a broader reminder about the importance of road safety in Thailand, urging the public — and especially parents— to take steps to help prevent similar incidents, the BBC reported.
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Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
The rescue was considered a small miracle cutting through a week of tragedy.
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ABC News,
2 July 2026
Walsh urged anyone who hears credible threats of violence, particularly in domestic situations, to report them immediately, saying early intervention gives law enforcement the best chance to prevent tragedy.
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Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
But when a tsunami rocks their island, profound tragedy ensues, and immediately ups the stakes of a brief encounter.
—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
The rescue was considered a small miracle cutting through a week of tragedy.
—
ABC News,
2 July 2026
Walsh urged anyone who hears credible threats of violence, particularly in domestic situations, to report them immediately, saying early intervention gives law enforcement the best chance to prevent tragedy.
—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2026
But when a tsunami rocks their island, profound tragedy ensues, and immediately ups the stakes of a brief encounter.
—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragedy
Noun
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Rodríguez said numerous public officials died in the disaster, including security personnel, municipal employees and military officers.
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The Boyle Heights blaze, similar to the Eaton and Palisades fires, has revealed the region’s air monitoring can’t always tell people what they’ve been exposed to in a disaster.
Noun
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For some reason, the Lions have long been plagued by misfortune on their defense, especially in the secondary.
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There’s Kimi Antonelli’s sudden rise, which so far seems to be one for the ages, while George Russell’s run of misfortune is certainly captivating.
Noun
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In the work of fiction, the ship is taken over to prevent catastrophe.
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The young girls are referred to as Heaven’s 27 by their surviving families, who are determined to honor their legacy by ensuring such a catastrophe never happens again.
Noun
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There have been few comments about improvements or calamities, other than the usual notes that battery life was reduced immediately after installation, which is commonplace.
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Residents of La Guaira, ground zero of the calamity, said food and water remained in short supply, despite the massive aid effort.
Noun
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The same year, another, longer-running TV version focused on the story of survivors after an alien apocalypse that had wiped out most of the Earth's population.
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Closing the Manhattan Bridge, diverting traffic, and managing the safety of staging a zombie apocalypse downtown required the cooperation and manpower of multiple agencies with their own sets of pressing priorities and responsibilities.
Cite this Entry
“Tragedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragedy. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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