variants
or less commonly tragical
1
a
: regrettably serious or unpleasant : deplorable, lamentable
a tragic mistake
b
: marked by a sense of tragedy
2
: of, marked by, or expressive of tragedy
the tragic significance of the atomic bomb—
H. S. Truman
H. S. Truman3
a
: dealing with or treated in tragedy
the tragic hero
b
: appropriate to or typical of tragedy
Examples of tragic in a Sentence
Their deaths were tragic and untimely.
They both died in a tragic car accident.
Romeo and Juliet's tragic love affair.
We saw a tragic play about a man with AIDS.
the tragic characters of her novel
Recent Examples on the Web
As the attack unfolds, Ray’s daughter, Naomi, still haunted by a tragic climbing accident, escapes into the mountains and must fight for survival against both nature and her pursuers.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
At the time, PEOPLE reported that the family was driving southbound on I-95 in McIntosh County when the tragic incident occurred.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Ahlander said that was when the tragic accident occurred.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Casaubonian in his learning and drive but without the tragic vanity, he was born in Pittsburgh in 1933 and raised in New York, inheriting from his Texan parents a pride in the Lone Star State, along with a lingering twang.
—Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tragic
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Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
At the time, PEOPLE reported that the family was driving southbound on I-95 in McIntosh County when the tragic incident occurred.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Ahlander said that was when the tragic accident occurred.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Casaubonian in his learning and drive but without the tragic vanity, he was born in Pittsburgh in 1933 and raised in New York, inheriting from his Texan parents a pride in the Lone Star State, along with a lingering twang.
—Manvir Singh, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tragic
Cite this Entry
“Tragic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tragic. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tragic
adjective
trag·ic
ˈtraj-ik 
1
: of, marked by, or expressive of tragedy
2
: dealing with or appearing in tragedy
a tragic hero
3
: very unfortunate : deplorable
a tragic mistake
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