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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of tragedies
Recent horrific tragedies have demonstrated the urgent need to improve Cook County’s process for enforcing warrants, too.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Less known, and more uncomfortable, is how some Democrats tend to go silent on the role that demonization from the left can play in these tragedies too.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
Stories like Anders’ are not rare tragedies.
—Joe Kiani, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
In the next several years Shakespeare wrote tragedies, comedies, and historical plays, set variously in England and abroad (often Italy and France).
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Cutesy anecdotes alternated with triumphs and tragedies—a school district rescued from a ransomware gang, an iPad salvaged from a plane crash.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The city of Hayward in February experienced one of the deadliest 10-day stretches for pedestrians in the city’s history, leading the public to call on leaders to quickly approve a plan to help prevent future tragedies.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
Even area colleges have weathered tragedies, scandals and controversies recently.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026
Lawmakers have proposed several bills this session related to the agency that have, in part, been meant to address deficiencies or gaps made public after the recent tragedies.
—Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
Less known, and more uncomfortable, is how some Democrats tend to go silent on the role that demonization from the left can play in these tragedies too.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
Stories like Anders’ are not rare tragedies.
—Joe Kiani, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
In the next several years Shakespeare wrote tragedies, comedies, and historical plays, set variously in England and abroad (often Italy and France).
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Cutesy anecdotes alternated with triumphs and tragedies—a school district rescued from a ransomware gang, an iPad salvaged from a plane crash.
—Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The city of Hayward in February experienced one of the deadliest 10-day stretches for pedestrians in the city’s history, leading the public to call on leaders to quickly approve a plan to help prevent future tragedies.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
Even area colleges have weathered tragedies, scandals and controversies recently.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2026
Lawmakers have proposed several bills this session related to the agency that have, in part, been meant to address deficiencies or gaps made public after the recent tragedies.
—Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tragedies
Noun
-
Five worst nuclear reactor disasters 1.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Satellite connectivity can act as a backup during disasters like hurricanes or wildfires.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Philadelphia singer-songwriter seeks out the mystical potential of quotidian misfortunes in a set of psychedelic-of-center bedroom pop songs.—
Lily Goldberg,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
-
But a staggering series of misfortunes – an arsonist destroyed her rental house; the private equity firm that owned the house still demanded two months’ rent and kept her security deposit; she was diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer – forced her into tenuous housing situations.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There has been no lesson learned and inadequate spending on infrastructure improvements, which would help prevent future catastrophes.—
Kristine Alessio,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
At the center of that calculation is the Disaster Relief Fund, FEMA's primary account for responding to catastrophes.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For certain great artists, Meis believes, the creative act is a safe harbor where life’s pressures, exigencies, and calamities aren’t so much denied or resolved as reimagined as pictorial dramas.—
Jed Perl,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Colorado went 43-119, a record that belongs in a museum exhibit beside other modern-era calamities, behind glass.—
Jenny Catlin,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Based on Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth, the surrealist musical follows one nuclear family across thousands of years and three apocalypses.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
10 Dec. 2025
-
And a lot of the pseudepigrapha, like the fake gospels and fake apocalypses, fill in gaps in the record that can serve latter-day, post-biblical purposes.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tragedies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tragedies. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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