Synonyms: disaster, catastrophe, misfortune, adversity More Synonyms of tragedy
2. variable noun
Tragedy is a type of literature, especially drama, that is serious and sad, and often ends with the death of the main character.
The story has elements of tragedy and farce.
...a classic Greek tragedy.
Synonyms: tragic drama, play More Synonyms of tragedy
tragedy in British English
(ˈtrædʒɪdɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-dies
1.
(esp in classical and Renaissance drama) a play in which the protagonist, usually a person of importance and outstanding personal qualities, falls to disaster through the combination of a personal failing and circumstances with which he or she cannot deal
2.
(in later drama, such as that of Ibsen) a play in which the protagonist is overcome by a combination of social and psychological circumstances
3.
any dramatic or literary composition dealing with serious or sombre themes and ending with disaster
4.
(in medieval literature) a literary work in which a great person falls from prosperity to disaster, often through no fault of his or her own
5.
the branch of drama dealing with such themes
6.
the unfortunate aspect of something
7.
a shocking or sad event; disaster
Compare comedy
Word origin
C14: from Old French tragédie, from Latin tragoedia, from Greek tragōidia, from tragos goat + ōidē song; perhaps a reference to the goat-satyrs of Peloponnesian plays
tragedy in American English
(ˈtrædʒədi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈtragedies
1.
a.
a serious play or drama typically dealing with the problems of a central character, leading to an unhappy or disastrous ending brought on, as in ancient drama, by fate and a tragic flaw in this character, or, in modern drama, usually by moral weakness, psychological maladjustment, or social pressures
see also catharsis (sense 2), tragic flaw
b.
such plays collectively
c.
the branch of drama having to do with such plays
2.
the writing, acting, or theoretical principles of this kind of drama
3.
a novel or other literary work with similar characteristics
4.
the tragic element of such a literary work, or of a real event
5.
a very sad or tragic event or sequence of events; disaster
Word origin
ME tragedie < MFr < L tragoedia < Gr tragōidia, tragedy, lit., the song of the goat < tragos, goat ( < IE *treg-, to gnaw < base *ter-, to rub, grind > throw) + ōidē, song (see ode): so named ? because of the goatskin dress of the performers, representing satyrs
COBUILD Collocations
tragedy
awful tragedy
family tragedy
human tragedy
personal tragedy
terrible tragedy
Examples of 'tragedy' in a sentence
tragedy
The great tragedy ended in farce.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It becomes more difficult to be angry at politicians fiddling their expenses if we are weeping with them over their personal tragedies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I am so happy her owner has some joy back in her life after this tragedy.
The Sun (2016)
How one deals with, and reacts to, personal tragedies will vary from person to person.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It would be a further tragedy if this disaster led to calls for a change in law.
The Sun (2012)
The role that science played in this tragedy is sobering.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
The real tragedy of such deaths is the sheer waste.
The Sun (2009)
Vile songs about football tragedies are often heard at grounds.
The Sun (2012)
Her trial was a tragedy compounded by farce.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It would be more than a personal tragedy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The classic motive of tragedy is catharsis.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You may have a tragedy in your life one day.
Christianity Today (2000)
The family had suffered great tragedy in the past.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Her extended family seem to have been involved in various dramas and tragedies.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Pals feared the strain of the double tragedy played a part in her death.
The Sun (2008)
His death was a tragedy for him and for his family.
The Sun (2008)
The shockwaves of tragedy often reach far.
The Sun (2016)
His life was afflicted by personal tragedy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
These days it tends to be all disaster and tragedy on one hand and triumph and elation on the other.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The young man 's tragedy was to be born just a few decades too early.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Should we call it tragedy, or farce?
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
This was a great tragedy, and a great blow to the ego of the superpower.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The narrative, so horribly familiar from media reports, unfolds with the inevitability of classical tragedy.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Quotations
Tragedy is clean, it is restful, it is flawlessJean AnouilhAntigone
Tragedy ought to be a great kick at miseryD.H. Lawrenceletter
All tragedies are finish'd by a death, All comedies are ended by a marriageLord ByronDon Juan
The world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feelHorace Walpole, Fourth Earl of OrfordLetters
Word lists with
tragedy
Types of drama, Types of entertainment
In other languages
tragedy
British English: tragedy /ˈtrædʒɪdɪ/ NOUN
A tragedy is an extremely sad event or situation.
They have suffered an enormous personal tragedy.
American English: tragedy
Arabic: مَأْساة
Brazilian Portuguese: tragédia
Chinese: 悲剧
Croatian: tragedija
Czech: tragédie
Danish: tragedie
Dutch: tragedie
European Spanish: tragedia
Finnish: tragedia
French: tragédie
German: Tragödie
Greek: τραγωδία
Italian: tragedia
Japanese: 悲惨な出来事
Korean: 비극
Norwegian: tragedie
Polish: tragedia
European Portuguese: tragédia
Romanian: tragedie
Russian: трагедия
Latin American Spanish: tragedia
Swedish: tragedi
Thai: โศกนาฏกรรม
Turkish: trajedi
Ukrainian: трагедія
Vietnamese: tấn thảm kịch
All related terms of 'tragedy'
awful tragedy
A tragedy is an extremely sad event or situation.
Greek tragedy
(in ancient Greek theatre ) a play in which the protagonist , usually a person of importance and outstanding personal qualities, falls to disaster through the combination of a personal failing and circumstances with which he or she cannot deal
human tragedy
A tragedy is an extremely sad event or situation.
family tragedy
A tragedy is an extremely sad event or situation.
tragedy strikes
If something such as an illness or disaster strikes , it suddenly happens .
personal tragedy
A tragedy is an extremely sad event or situation .
terrible tragedy
A tragedy is an extremely sad event or situation.
Chinese translation of 'tragedy'
tragedy
(ˈtrædʒədɪ)
n(c/u)
(= disaster) 极(極)大的不幸 (jídà de bùxìng) (个(個), gè)
(Theat) 悲剧(劇) (bēijù) (个(個), gè)
1 (noun)
Definition
a shocking or sad event
They have suffered an enormous personal tragedy.
Synonyms
disaster
the second air disaster in less than two months
catastrophe
The world is heading towards an environmental catastrophe.
misfortune
He had had his full share of misfortunes.
adversity
He showed courage in adversity.
calamity
This course of action could only end in calamity.
affliction
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
whammy (informal)
bummer (slang)
grievous blow
Opposites
success
,
fortune
,
joy
,
happiness
,
prosperity
2 (noun)
Definition
a serious play, film, or opera in which the main character is destroyed by a combination of a personal failing and adverse circumstances
a classic Greek tragedy
Synonyms
tragic drama
play
The company put on a Shakespeare play
Quotations
Tragedy is clean, it is restful, it is flawless [Jean Anouilh – Antigone]Tragedy ought to be a great kick at misery [D.H. Lawrence – letter]All tragedies are finish'd by a death, All comedies are ended by a marriage [Lord Byron – Don Juan]The world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel [Horace Walpole, Fourth Earl of Orford – Letters]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adversity
Definition
very difficult or hard circumstances
He showed courage in adversity.
Synonyms
hardship,
trouble,
distress,
suffering,
trial,
disaster,
reverse,
misery,
hard times,
catastrophe,
sorrow,
woe,
misfortune,
bad luck,
deep water,
calamity,
mishap,
affliction,
wretchedness,
ill-fortune,
ill-luck
in the sense of affliction
Definition
something that causes physical or mental suffering
Hay fever is an affliction that arrives at an early age.
Synonyms
misfortune,
suffering,
trouble,
trial,
disease,
pain,
distress,
grief,
misery,
plague (informal),
curse,
ordeal,
sickness,
torment,
hardship,
sorrow,
woe,
adversity,
calamity,
scourge,
tribulation,
wretchedness
in the sense of calamity
Definition
a disaster or misfortune
This course of action could only end in calamity.
Synonyms
disaster,
tragedy,
ruin,
distress,
reversal of fortune,
hardship,
catastrophe,
woe,
misfortune,
downfall,
adversity,
scourge,
mishap,
affliction,
trial,
tribulation,
misadventure,
cataclysm,
wretchedness,
mischance
Synonyms of 'tragedy'
tragedy
Explore 'tragedy' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of catastrophe
Definition
a great and sudden disaster or misfortune
The world is heading towards an environmental catastrophe.