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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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
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Recent Examples of tragedy
Serious Music kicks in, along with news footage explaining the Rust tragedy, then police footage of Alec Baldwin, shocked and horrified, learning that Halyna Hutchins died.
—
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Wars are mass tragedies, as tens of millions of Ukrainians can now attest.
—Mick Ryan, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2025
Alec Baldwin opens up about the psychological toll of the Rust tragedy in the premiere of his new reality show, The Baldwins.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
In many ways, Payne’s life and death have the familiar contours of a pop tragedy: a young artist, whose talents were often at odds with his demons, experiencing the apex of stardom as well as its depths.
—Federico Fahsbender, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Wars are mass tragedies, as tens of millions of Ukrainians can now attest.
—Mick Ryan, Foreign Affairs, 21 Feb. 2025
Alec Baldwin opens up about the psychological toll of the Rust tragedy in the premiere of his new reality show, The Baldwins.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 20 Feb. 2025
In many ways, Payne’s life and death have the familiar contours of a pop tragedy: a young artist, whose talents were often at odds with his demons, experiencing the apex of stardom as well as its depths.
—Federico Fahsbender, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tragedy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragedy
Noun
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The scope of the disaster grew clear as the orchestra began to reconnect.—
Thomas Curwen,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2025
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Weegee’s pictures of disaster, crime, and urban blight not only grabbed viewers’ attention but highlighted the ways in which passive spectatorship had come to dominate our lives as citizens.—
Naomi Fry,
The New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The cerebral Sridhar Ramaswamy, had the misfortune to follow in the huge CEO footsteps of the Bill Belichick-like Slootman.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2025
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Cheick Doucoure would ordinarily have seemed the ideal partner for Wharton but has suffered terrible misfortune with injuries, and is now out until at least the end of the season with a meniscus injury.—
Matt Woosnam,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
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While most EVs seemed designed for a smaller, smoother future, the Cybertruck appears poised to help its owners survive a coming apocalypse in style and comfort.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA TODAY,
12 Feb. 2025
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Didn’t Die / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Meera Menon, Screenwriter and Producer: Paul Gleason, Producers: Erica Fishman, Joe Camerota, Luke Patton) –– A podcast host desperately clings to an ever-shrinking audience in the zombie apocalypse.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In a region vulnerable to hurricanes and other calamities made worse by a warming climate, reducing the damage would help ease suffering.—
Christopher Flavelle,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2025
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They were also meant to come to the rescue with their largesse in the case of a public crisis or calamity.—
Brian Klaas,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to tragedy
Cite this Entry
“Tragedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragedy. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
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