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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tragedy
Ward was an elite corner for the Chiefs and 49ers before dealing with a family tragedy that derailed him.
—
Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In Stomp the Yard, Columbus Short stars as DJ Williams, a gifted street dancer who enrolls at a fictional HBCU to start fresh after personal tragedy.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025
There’s a particular kind of Oscar-season tragedy that has nothing to do with surprise snubs.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
Staff did not want her life to be defined by tragedy.
—Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
In Stomp the Yard, Columbus Short stars as DJ Williams, a gifted street dancer who enrolls at a fictional HBCU to start fresh after personal tragedy.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025
There’s a particular kind of Oscar-season tragedy that has nothing to do with surprise snubs.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
Staff did not want her life to be defined by tragedy.
—Aishwarya S. Iyer, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragedy
Noun
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Because of its proximity to the stadium, Panoramic Hill is often first in line for disaster preparedness measures, including the thinning of brush and eucalyptus trees on the hill, Berkeley resident Kevin Casey said.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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And why this all might be a financial and environmental disaster waiting to happen.—
NPR,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Across almost 20 novels, the British author spun fantastical tales with unsentimental wit, infusing his work with darkly morbid humor, blithe child endangerment, rotten and antagonistic adults, and a willingness to occasionally laugh at the misfortune of others.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
17 Oct. 2025
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For Rising, his misfortune and some good timing dovetailed to put him here.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And a lot of the pseudepigrapha, like the fake gospels and fake apocalypses, fill in gaps in the record that can serve latter-day, post-biblical purposes.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
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In 2011, in fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a zombie apocalypse preparedness guide that explained how readying oneself for a zombie apocalypse can prepare people for any large-scale disaster.—
Tom Duszynski,
The Conversation,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And Talanoa Hufanga continued to fly around like a calamity let loose from Pandora's box, adding a key third-down pass-breakup on the Jets' final offensive drive.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
12 Oct. 2025
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In the wake of that calamity, the Sharks overhauled their defense corps and goaltending and brought in some new faces up front.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tragedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragedy. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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