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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tragedy
That rite-of-passage dawning hits harder than usual in light of the tragedy awaiting the family.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Aug. 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, 9 Aug. 2025
Four neighbors who acted selflessly when a plane crash-landed on a Pembroke Pines street three weeks ago are the reason the night of July 13 didn’t end in tragedy.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
Her mother remarried and had more children with another Navy man, who also passed away in a similar tragedy when Scott Thomas was 11.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Aug. 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, 9 Aug. 2025
Four neighbors who acted selflessly when a plane crash-landed on a Pembroke Pines street three weeks ago are the reason the night of July 13 didn’t end in tragedy.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
Her mother remarried and had more children with another Navy man, who also passed away in a similar tragedy when Scott Thomas was 11.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragedy
Noun
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During times of year when there are fewer weather disasters, the agency receives fewer calls and can choose to spend less money staffing call centers.—
Rebecca Hersher,
NPR,
7 Aug. 2025
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When a data disaster occurs, many IT professionals and system administrators focus on selecting powerful data recovery software or hiring professional services.—
Chongwei Chen,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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As everyone knows, the best way to distract from your own sudden misfortune is to laugh at someone else’s.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
22 July 2025
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Not everyone agrees that the U.K. could benefit from trade misfortunes that befall the EU, whatever the outcome of last-ditch talks between Brussels and Washington.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
21 July 2025
Noun
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In End Times Fun, the hour spirals itself up into a Book of Revelations–style vision of spectacular, epic, fire-and-brimstone apocalypse.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
1 Aug. 2025
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Barring a zombie apocalypse, the TrailSport has more off-road capability than any CR-V owner will ever need.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Administration officials are warning of calamity if courts remove the sweeping tariffs President Donald Trump imposed on emergency grounds.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Aug. 2025
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The menace isn’t invisible; rather, simply looking at the mysterious cause of this global calamity drives humans to suicide.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tragedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragedy. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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