SINCE 1828
tragicomic
adjective
tragi·com·ic
| \ ˌtra-ji-ˈkä-mik
\
\
variants:
or less commonly tragicomical \ ˌtra-ji-ˈkä-mi-kəl
\
\
Definition of tragicomic
1
: of, relating to, or resembling tragicomedy
2
: manifesting both tragic and comic aspects
Examples of tragicomic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Things feel different now, even in the few months since Lightfoot took over, and even with the tragicomic scandal of the Jussie Smollett affair. — Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'16 Shots' documentary review: On Chicago's mean streets, who controls the narrative?," 3 June 2019 That’s what everyone wants from Lucia Berlin after first encountering her tragicomic oeuvre: more. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "How Lucia Berlin Became A Literary Superstar 11 Years After Her Death (And Is About to Publish A New Collection)," 5 Nov. 2018 But also featured are tragicomic government films alleging no public health risk. — Dan Popkey, idahostatesman, "'I promised ... that I wouldn't give up.' Documentary shows downwinders' plight," 9 Aug. 2013 Moreover, a pair of tragicomic scenes centered on the fragility of Al’s equipment set a template for generations of self-dramatizing filmmakers. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "The Self-Dramatizing Style of Morris Engel," 30 Mar. 2018 In between the tragicomic bits — there is much fun with accents — the performers grab instruments and sing a folk song, mostly Americana, but also Irish and such. — Kerry Lengel, azcentral, "Bite-size theater reviews: 'Flora and Ulysses,' 'Bury the Hatchet,' 'Godspell'," 4 May 2018 Jackson may not draw out the full range her role's tragicomic music, but her mercilessness potently conveys the playwright's existential realism. — Charles Mcnulty, latimes.com, "Glenda Jackson steals the show in a thrilling, emotionally affecting 'Three Tall Women' on Broadway," 30 Mar. 2018 Venom starts to erode Eddie’s sanity immediately, to disturbing, tragicomic effect. — Aja Romano, Vox, "Watch: the new Venom trailer reveals Tom Hardy’s toothy antihero at last," 24 Apr. 2018 With intricacy and humor, Van der Vliet Oloomi relays Zebra’s brainy, benighted struggles as a tragicomic picaresque whose fervid logic and cerebral whimsy recall the work of Bolaño and Borges. — Liesl Schillinger, New York Times, "Brainy and Benighted, Lost in the Books of Bolaño and Borges," 29 Mar. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tragicomic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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