tragedian
noun
tra·ge·di·an
trə-ˈjē-dē-ən 
Examples of tragedian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Electra, after all, had roles in the works of the tragedians Sophocles and Euripides, among others.
—
Lisa Kennedy, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekhov, Beckett, the ancient Greek tragedians and Tennessee Williams were among the voices who originally called out to me.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
In the play, written by the ancient Greek tragedian circa 420 BC, Elektra, haunted by her father’s assassination, is consumed by grief; a need for survival; and a thirst for vengeance.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Sep. 2024
The archaic poet Sappho, from the island of Lesbos, showed the vitality of desire for other women, while the playwright Aristophanes (the very one featured in Plato’s Symposium) presented the tragedian Agathon seeking to understand the experience of women by dressing like one.
—Sarah Nooter / Made By History, TIME, 9 Sep. 2024
Among the tragedians, there are extant works from only three: Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides.
—Teju Cole, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023
Above the minotaur, ancient Greek tragedians are painted on the wall—Euripides, Sophocles, Aeschylus.
—Max Olesker, Longreads, 13 July 2023
Based on the Greek tragedian Euripides’s tale of Medea, the opera is centered on a scorned Medea whose thirst for vengeance can only be quenched with murder.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2022
No actor has ever emerged as fully formed, as original and with such unique timing as Streisand does here, gracefully blending romantic lead with outrageous clown, Broadway belter and heartbreaking tragedian.
—Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune, 18 Nov. 2020
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.
Lisa Kennedy, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekhov, Beckett, the ancient Greek tragedians and Tennessee Williams were among the voices who originally called out to me.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
In the play, written by the ancient Greek tragedian circa 420 BC, Elektra, haunted by her father’s assassination, is consumed by grief; a need for survival; and a thirst for vengeance.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Sep. 2024
The archaic poet Sappho, from the island of Lesbos, showed the vitality of desire for other women, while the playwright Aristophanes (the very one featured in Plato’s Symposium) presented the tragedian Agathon seeking to understand the experience of women by dressing like one.
—Sarah Nooter / Made By History, TIME, 9 Sep. 2024
Among the tragedians, there are extant works from only three: Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides.
—Teju Cole, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023
Above the minotaur, ancient Greek tragedians are painted on the wall—Euripides, Sophocles, Aeschylus.
—Max Olesker, Longreads, 13 July 2023
Based on the Greek tragedian Euripides’s tale of Medea, the opera is centered on a scorned Medea whose thirst for vengeance can only be quenched with murder.
—Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2022
No actor has ever emerged as fully formed, as original and with such unique timing as Streisand does here, gracefully blending romantic lead with outrageous clown, Broadway belter and heartbreaking tragedian.
—Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune, 18 Nov. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Tragedian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tragedian. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tragedian
noun
tra·ge·di·an
trə-ˈjēd-ē-ən
1
: a writer of tragedies
2
: an actor of tragic roles
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share