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
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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
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Recent Examples of tragedies
The flag has been ordered to half-staff following major tragedies, such as the September 11 Attacks and the 2012 Newtown school shooting.
—
James Powel, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
But anyone who responds to preventable tragedies like this—tragedies that over time begin to erode the very fabric of our country—by refusing to face the problem of gun violence and crime head-on is missing the point.
—Gabby Giffords, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
That production is play number two in Three Bone’s multi-season trilogy that reframes classic Greek tragedies as modern stories about concerns within the Chicano and Latino communities.
—Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
For nearly three decades, Colorado has experienced some of the highest-profile shootings in the nation – tragedies that claimed the lives of ordinary Americans sitting in classrooms or movie theaters, shopping for groceries or dancing at a nightclub.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Flags typically fly at half-staff after national tragedies or deaths of government officials, military members or other first responders.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Watts said the child welfare agency also will maintain collaboration with public health officials, law enforcement and treatment providers to prevent tragedies connected to fentanyl and other drugs.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
Here is the emphasis on the hardscrabble beginnings and obstacles to be overcome, here is the recognition of a truly raw but once-in-a-lifetime talent that converts the nonbelivers, here are the early wins and the training montages and the tragedies and the comebacks.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
For some people within the agency, the multiple safety reviews for NASA missions are a necessary safeguard after the space shuttle Challenger and Columbia tragedies.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025
James Powel, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
But anyone who responds to preventable tragedies like this—tragedies that over time begin to erode the very fabric of our country—by refusing to face the problem of gun violence and crime head-on is missing the point.
—Gabby Giffords, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
That production is play number two in Three Bone’s multi-season trilogy that reframes classic Greek tragedies as modern stories about concerns within the Chicano and Latino communities.
—Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 11 Sep. 2025
For nearly three decades, Colorado has experienced some of the highest-profile shootings in the nation – tragedies that claimed the lives of ordinary Americans sitting in classrooms or movie theaters, shopping for groceries or dancing at a nightclub.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Flags typically fly at half-staff after national tragedies or deaths of government officials, military members or other first responders.
—Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Watts said the child welfare agency also will maintain collaboration with public health officials, law enforcement and treatment providers to prevent tragedies connected to fentanyl and other drugs.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
Here is the emphasis on the hardscrabble beginnings and obstacles to be overcome, here is the recognition of a truly raw but once-in-a-lifetime talent that converts the nonbelivers, here are the early wins and the training montages and the tragedies and the comebacks.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2025
For some people within the agency, the multiple safety reviews for NASA missions are a necessary safeguard after the space shuttle Challenger and Columbia tragedies.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragedies
Noun
-
Some BDCs are dividend machines, others are disasters.—
Brett Owens,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Some contend mythologising such events does a disservice to those who lost their lives in maritime disasters.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But since June 13th—also the date when the Mets’ major misfortunes began—the Yankees have had a losing record, and have tumbled out of first place.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
24 Aug. 2025
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But as much as Nashville artists love to dissect their misfortunes in song, Monroe has gone in almost the opposite direction with her latest project.—
Nancy Kruh,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Families that embrace this mindset see setbacks not as catastrophes but as tuition.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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The story grabbed him thematically too, given the increasing devastation caused by wildfires and other environmental catastrophes.—
Tomris Laffly,
Time,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
Noun
-
If these calamities unfold, the revenue projections, total costs and net transfer balances will be a little lower, too, with the cumulative cashflow balance being higher, at £161million by the summer of 2028.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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Levine Cava bristled, saying the only money left to fund the choppers would be the county’s emergency fund — dollars reserved for hurricanes or other calamities.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tragedies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragedies. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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