1
as in disasters
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 misfortunes
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 tragedies
Luna is dreamy, while Jane is matter-of-fact, even about family tragedies.
—
Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
Flags are usually flown at half-staff after national tragedies or deaths of government officials, military members or other first responders.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025
In a category that traditionally favors serious dramas, this rom-com unfolding against the backdrop of 30 years of Lebanese tragedies plays like a breath of fresh air and piques anticipation for Aris’ next feature.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
Crucially, the tragedies of the film don’t come from a sense of the filmmaker’s cynicism, but from compassion.
—Kambole Campbell, IndieWire, 3 Nov. 2025
With projects bracing for termination, mission teams broken apart and safety protocols weakened, the guardrails that once kept NASA from repeating its worst tragedies are being stripped away in real time.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
After a devastating series of tragedies gets her medical license revoked, Maggie is without purpose, but not without passion.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Each one of those tragedies could have been prevented.
—Roger Marshall, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Bryan discussed navigating grief and finding silver linings after the family tragedies on a CNN podcast.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Oct. 2025
Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
Flags are usually flown at half-staff after national tragedies or deaths of government officials, military members or other first responders.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025
In a category that traditionally favors serious dramas, this rom-com unfolding against the backdrop of 30 years of Lebanese tragedies plays like a breath of fresh air and piques anticipation for Aris’ next feature.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
Crucially, the tragedies of the film don’t come from a sense of the filmmaker’s cynicism, but from compassion.
—Kambole Campbell, IndieWire, 3 Nov. 2025
With projects bracing for termination, mission teams broken apart and safety protocols weakened, the guardrails that once kept NASA from repeating its worst tragedies are being stripped away in real time.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 31 Oct. 2025
After a devastating series of tragedies gets her medical license revoked, Maggie is without purpose, but not without passion.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Each one of those tragedies could have been prevented.
—Roger Marshall, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Bryan discussed navigating grief and finding silver linings after the family tragedies on a CNN podcast.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragedies
Noun
-
Excluding disasters, sudden surges of this magnitude in requests for food or any other need are rare at 211s, and can signal both public worry and need, as happened in the first weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Matthew W. Kreuter,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
But Kalmaegi also collapsed flood-control infrastructure in the province that was ostensibly meant to protect citizens in such disasters.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Mistakes, misfortunes, even tragedy, toxic secrets from the past—anything can happen, or may have happened.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Oct. 2025
-
According to local belief, sending a lantern upward helps cleanse a person’s spirit and eases their misfortunes, clearing the path for good luck in the coming year.—
Sarah Buder,
AFAR Media,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But catastrophes also tend to reveal deficits in society, and the patterns of destruction and abandonment that followed the fire—which have roots in America’s past and its present—tell us something about the country’s future, too.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
-
While people’s claims history, inflation, higher labor and construction costs play into increases nationwide, Coloradans face the additional burden of living in a state where the risk is high of catastrophes wreaking billions of dollars in damage.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Whereas much of the original play unfolds as a steady stream of callers to the Tesmans’ estate, DaCosta cleverly restages these various interpersonal calamities against the backdrop of a lavish party.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The piling on of hurdles, unforeseen challenges, and calamities is almost ridiculous.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
The audience for 2025’s reel of zombie apocalypses lives in a world shaped, in part, by Americans’ refusal to accept an aging Joe Biden’s ineligibility for President.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
9 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tragedies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragedies. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share