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 page lists half a dozen directorial projects Ford is attached to, including ferry disaster tragedy Wahine out of New Zealand, fantasy tale The King of Light – The Order of the Dark Gods, and comedy Food Fight.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 June 2025
This isn’t the first time that gospel has helped Freedia cope with tragedy.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 23 June 2025
She is left to not only grapple with this tragedy and her involvement in that but also what’s next: continue on with the Sinclair legacy and uphold the lie of what really happened that night to the public or distance herself entirely from the family.
—Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2025
Beyond the obvious humanitarian tragedy that surrounds any armed conflict, the Israel-Iran war has crucial possible implications for the global economy.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 June 2025
This isn’t the first time that gospel has helped Freedia cope with tragedy.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 23 June 2025
She is left to not only grapple with this tragedy and her involvement in that but also what’s next: continue on with the Sinclair legacy and uphold the lie of what really happened that night to the public or distance herself entirely from the family.
—Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2025
Beyond the obvious humanitarian tragedy that surrounds any armed conflict, the Israel-Iran war has crucial possible implications for the global economy.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragedy
Noun
-
By ordering these strikes, Trump acted without congressional approval and in contradiction to his campaign promise to avoid the kind of disasters experienced in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
22 June 2025
-
One of the factors that exacerbated the Chernobyl disaster was a design flaw within the nuclear reactor that exploded, Bernstein said, adding that the design is no longer used.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
21 June 2025
Noun
-
However, the newlywed hopes that even if his money is never returned, his misfortune can serve as a warning for others.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
19 June 2025
-
Drake is getting candid about his recent gambling misfortunes.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
When Jeffrey Dean Morgan is away filming in the zombie apocalypse, his 7-year-old daughter George is never far from his mind.—
Kirsten Acuna,
People.com,
12 June 2025
-
No other blood could possibly have made it onto Negan’s boot in this zombie apocalypse filled with violence.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
That sum builds on amounts given after other recent calamities, including the 2023 Maui fires and last year’s hurricanes in the Southeast.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
15 June 2025
-
May 27, 2025 1:45 PM PT Myriad calamities could hit the city of Los Angeles in coming years: Wildfires.—
Matt Hamilton,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tragedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragedy. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share