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
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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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Examples of tragedy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If anything, the fragmented narrative only deepens the sense of tragedy that looms over this sober tale of two families whose summer holiday winds up going terribly wrong.
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Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Aug. 2024
Opponents have also linked Walters’ policies to anti-LGBTQ+ violence in Oklahoma, particularly the death of Indigenous nonbinary teen Nex Benedict earlier this year and the violent bullying incident that preceded that tragedy.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 14 Aug. 2024
And deservedly so: With so much going on under Shin-ae’s surface, the audience relies on Do-Yeon’s shifting mien to show us that even in the wake of unbearable tragedy, a range of feeling and human experience endures.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2024
The elder Brown now devotes his time to the Michael Brown Sr. Chosen for Change Organization, a foundation that helps fathers, mothers and children come to grips with tragedy in their lives.
—CBS News, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tragedy 
Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Aug. 2024
Opponents have also linked Walters’ policies to anti-LGBTQ+ violence in Oklahoma, particularly the death of Indigenous nonbinary teen Nex Benedict earlier this year and the violent bullying incident that preceded that tragedy.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 14 Aug. 2024
And deservedly so: With so much going on under Shin-ae’s surface, the audience relies on Do-Yeon’s shifting mien to show us that even in the wake of unbearable tragedy, a range of feeling and human experience endures.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2024
The elder Brown now devotes his time to the Michael Brown Sr. Chosen for Change Organization, a foundation that helps fathers, mothers and children come to grips with tragedy in their lives.
—CBS News, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tragedy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tragedy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Tragedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragedy. Accessed 25 Aug. 2024.
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