tragedy

1 a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction the earthquake was only the latest in a series of tragedies for the city Synonyms apocalypse, calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, debacle (also débâcle), disasterRelated Words bloodbath, collapse, crash, meltdown; Armageddon, doomsday, end-time; convulsion, paroxysm, upheaval; accident, casualty, fatality; misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap; blast, blow, double whammy, one-two (or one-two punch)Near Antonyms godsend, manna, windfall

2 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 adversity, ill, knock, misadventure, mischance, mishap, misfortuneRelated Words calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, disaster; affliction, hardship, trial, tribulation, woe; distress, misery, suffering, unhappiness; defeat, failure, fizzle, nonsuccess; curse, evil, sorrow, trouble; accident, casualty; blow, body blow, disappointment, letdown, setback; circumstance, destiny, doom, fate, lot, portionNear Antonyms break, chance, fluke, godsend, hit, opportunity, strike, stroke, windfall; accomplishment, achievement, successAntonyms fortune, luck, serendipity