A tragic event or situation is extremely sad, usually because it involves death or suffering.
It was just a tragic accident.
...the tragic loss of so many lives.
The circumstances are tragic but we have to act within the law.
Synonyms: distressing, shocking, sad, awful More Synonyms of tragic
tragically (trædʒɪkli)adverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective/adverb]
Tragically, she never saw the completed building because she died before it was finished.
My father died very suddenly and very tragically.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Tragic is used to refer to tragedy as a type of literature.
...Michael Henchard, the tragic hero of 'The Mayor of Casterbridge'.
More Synonyms of tragic
tragic in British English
(ˈtrædʒɪk) or less commonly tragical (ˈtrædʒɪkəl)
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or characteristic of tragedy
2.
mournful or pitiable
a tragic face
Derived forms
tragically (ˈtragically)
adverb
tragic in American English
(ˈtrædʒɪk)
adjective
1.
of, or having the nature of, tragedy
2.
like or characteristic of tragedy; bringing great harm, suffering, etc.; calamitous, disastrous, fatal, etc.
3.
appropriate to the acting of tragedy
in a tragic voice
4.
writing or acting in tragedy
: Also ˈtragical
noun
5.
the tragic element in art or life
Derived forms
tragically (ˈtragically)
adverb
tragicalness (ˈtragicalness)
noun
Word origin
L tragicus < Gr tragikos
Examples of 'tragic' in a sentence
tragic
This was a tragic accident as a result of an act of nature.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Inquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances around this tragic incident.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
This appears to be a tragic scuba diving accident.
The Sun (2016)
It is such a tragic loss.
The Sun (2016)
It was so tragic and sad.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They had a battle and it's just a tragic end.
The Sun (2017)
This is just one example of tragic, avoidable deaths in our prisons.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
As sad and tragic as this is to report, he appears to be beyond help.
The Sun (2016)
Their actions cause immeasurable pain to families, who must endure tragic, unnecessary losses.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's just tragic, a real tragedy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We need to stop any more tragic losses.
The Sun (2008)
We acknowledge that this was a tragic accident.
The Sun (2016)
Yet what should be a tragic ending just comes across as melodrama.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The best of lives are sad and tragic.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We will do things differently as a result of this tragic incident.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is a tragic and sudden loss.
The Sun (2014)
The accident was a freak and tragic accident.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is just like a tragic film scenario.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Our thoughts are very much with the families affected by this tragic incident.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Such sentimental explanations of a tragic loss only add embarrassment or fury to the suffering.
Christianity Today (2000)
She had suffered serious head injuries and we are treating it as a tragic accident.
The Sun (2009)
The whole thing is just so tragic.
The Sun (2009)
We would also like to send our condolences to all the other families and people involved in this tragic incident.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This is very sad and tragic.
The Sun (2015)
And it's time we stopped making them into tragic heroes.
The Sun (2014)
People would like to think it's sad and tragic.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It was inevitable that the tragic, early death of such a young man would shock the family.
Louise Carpenter AN UNLIKELY COUNTESS: Lily Budge and the 13th Earl of Galloway (2004)
In other languages
tragic
British English: tragic /ˈtrædʒɪk/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is tragic is extremely sad, usually because it involves suffering.
It was just a tragic accident.
American English: tragic
Arabic: مَأْسَاوِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: trágico
Chinese: 悲剧的
Croatian: tragičan
Czech: tragický
Danish: tragisk
Dutch: tragisch
European Spanish: trágico
Finnish: traaginen
French: tragique
German: tragisch
Greek: τραγικός
Italian: tragico
Japanese: 悲惨な
Korean: 비극적인
Norwegian: tragisk
Polish: tragiczny
European Portuguese: trágico
Romanian: tragic
Russian: трагический
Latin American Spanish: trágico
Swedish: tragisk
Thai: น่าสลดใจ
Turkish: trajik
Ukrainian: трагічний
Vietnamese: bi thảm
All related terms of 'tragic'
tragic case
A particular case is a particular situation or incident , especially one that you are using as an individual example or instance of something.
tragic flaw
a failing of character in the hero of a tragedy that brings about his downfall
tragic loss
The loss of a relative or friend is their death.
tragic death
Death is the permanent end of the life of a person or animal.
tragic ending
You can refer to the last part of a book, story , play, or film as the ending , especially when you are considering the way that the story ends.
tragic irony
the use of dramatic irony in a tragedy ( originally , in Greek tragedy), so that the audience is aware that a character's words or actions will bring about a tragic or fatal result, while the character is not
tragic accident
An accident happens when a vehicle hits a person, an object, or another vehicle, causing injury or damage.
tragic incident
An incident is something that happens , often something that is unpleasant .
tragic circumstance
The circumstances of an event are the way it happened or the causes of it.
Chinese translation of 'tragic'
tragic
(ˈtrædʒɪk)
adj
[death, consequences, accident]悲惨(慘)的 (bēicǎn de)
(Theat)[play, hero etc]悲剧(劇)的 (bēijù de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
sad and distressing because it involves death or suffering
the tragic loss of so many lives
Synonyms
distressing
the distressing symptoms of anxiety
shocking
This was a shocking invasion of privacy.
sad
a sad state of affairs
awful
appalling
They have been living under the most appalling conditions.
fatal
It dealt a fatal blow to his chances.
deadly
unfortunate
Through some unfortunate accident, the information reached me a day late.
disastrous
the recent, disastrous earthquake
dreadful
dire
We found ourselves in a dire predicament.
catastrophic
A tidal wave caused catastrophic damage.
grievous
woeful
the team's recent woeful performance
lamentable
ruinous
the ruinous effects of the conflict
calamitous
a calamitous air crash
wretched
ill-starred
ill-fated
Opposites
lucky
,
satisfying
,
fortunate
,
worthwhile
,
beneficial
2 (adjective)
Definition
sad or mournful
She is a tragic figure.
Synonyms
sad
The loss left me feeling sad and empty.
miserable
She went to bed, miserable and depressed.
dismal
You can't occupy yourself with dismal thoughts all the time.
pathetic
It was a pathetic sight, watching the people queue for food.
heartbreaking
one of the most heartbreaking letters I have ever received
anguished
mournful
the mournful wail of bagpipes
heart-rending
heart-rending accounts of the disaster
sorrowful
His father's face looked suddenly soft and sorrowful.
doleful
He stared over his glasses with a doleful look.
pitiable
Her grandmother seemed to her a pitiable figure.
Opposites
happy
,
comic
,
cheerful
,
joyful
3 (adjective)
Definition
sad and distressing because it involves death or suffering
This is a tragic waste of such a young life.
Synonyms
dreadful
They told us the dreadful news.
terrible
Thousands suffered terrible injuries in the disaster.
awful
Even if the weather's awful there's still lots to do.
galling
grievous
Their loss would be a grievous blow to our engineering industries.
regrettable
a regrettable incident
abject
Both of them suffered abject poverty.
deplorable
Many of them work under deplorable conditions.
lamentable
This lamentable state of affairs lasted until 1947.
wretched
vexatious
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abject
Definition
utterly miserable
Both of them suffered abject poverty.
Synonyms
wretched,
miserable,
hopeless,
dismal,
outcast,
pitiful,
forlorn,
deplorable,
pitiable
in the sense of appalling
Definition
causing dismay, horror, or revulsion
They have been living under the most appalling conditions.
Synonyms
horrifying,
shocking (informal),
terrible,
alarming,
frightening,
scaring,
awful,
terrifying,
horrible,
grim,
dreadful,
intimidating,
dismaying,
horrific,
fearful (informal),
daunting,
dire,
astounding,
ghastly,
hideous,
shameful,
harrowing,
vile,
unnerving,
petrifying,
horrid,
unspeakable,
frightful,
nightmarish,
abominable,
disheartening,
godawful (slang),
hellacious (US, slang),
from hell (informal)
in the sense of awful
Even if the weather's awful there's still lots to do.
Synonyms
bad,
poor,
terrible (informal),
appalling,
foul,
rubbish (slang),
shit (taboo, slang),
dreadful,
unpleasant,
dire,
crap (taboo, slang),
horrendous,
ghastly,
from hell (informal),
atrocious,
deplorable,
abysmal,
frightful,
shite (taboo, slang),
hellacious (US, slang)
Synonyms of 'tragic'
tragic
Explore 'tragic' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of calamitous
Definition
resulting in or from disaster
a calamitous air crash
Synonyms
disastrous,
terrible,
devastating,
tragic,
fatal,
deadly,
dreadful,
dire,
catastrophic,
woeful,
ruinous,
cataclysmic
in the sense of catastrophic
A tidal wave caused catastrophic damage.
Synonyms
disastrous,
devastating,
tragic,
calamitous,
cataclysmic
in the sense of deplorable
Definition
very bad or unpleasant
Many of them work under deplorable conditions.
Synonyms
terrible (informal),
distressing,
dreadful,
sad,
unfortunate,
disastrous,
miserable,
dire,
melancholy,
heartbreaking,
grievous,
regrettable,
lamentable,
calamitous,
wretched,
pitiable
in the sense of dire
Definition
disastrous, urgent, or terrible
We found ourselves in a dire predicament.
Synonyms
desperate,
pressing,
crying,
critical,
terrible,
crucial,
alarming,
extreme,
awful,
appalling,
urgent,
cruel,
horrible,
disastrous,
grim,
dreadful,
gloomy,
fearful (informal),
dismal,
drastic,
catastrophic,
ominous,
horrid (informal),
woeful,
ruinous,
calamitous,
cataclysmic,
portentous,
godawful (slang),
exigent,
bodeful
in the sense of disastrous
the recent, disastrous earthquake
Synonyms
terrible,
devastating,
tragic,
fatal,
unfortunate,
dreadful,
destructive,
unlucky,
harmful,
adverse,
dire,
catastrophic,
detrimental,
untoward,
ruinous,
calamitous,
cataclysmic,
ill-starred,
unpropitious,
ill-fated,
cataclysmal
in the sense of dismal
Definition
gloomy and depressing
You can't occupy yourself with dismal thoughts all the time.
Synonyms
sad,
gloomy,
melancholy,
black,
dark,
depressing,
discouraging,
bleak,
dreary,
sombre,
forlorn,
despondent,
lugubrious,
sorrowful,
wretched,
funereal,
cheerless,
dolorous
in the sense of doleful
Definition
dreary or mournful
He stared over his glasses with a doleful look.
Synonyms
mournful,
sad,
gloomy,
depressing,
low,
painful,
distressing,
dismal,
melancholy,
dreary,
sombre,
pitiful,
forlorn,
woeful,
lugubrious,
sorrowful,
wretched,
funereal,
cheerless,
woebegone,
down in the mouth,
dolorous
in the sense of fatal
Definition
resulting in unfortunate consequences
It dealt a fatal blow to his chances.
Synonyms
disastrous,
devastating,
crippling,
lethal,
catastrophic,
ruinous,
calamitous,
baleful,
baneful
in the sense of grievous
Definition
very serious or worrying
Their loss would be a grievous blow to our engineering industries.
Synonyms
deplorable,
shocking,
appalling,
dreadful,
outrageous,
glaring,
intolerable,
monstrous,
shameful,
unbearable,
atrocious,
heinous,
lamentable,
egregious
in the sense of heart-rending
Definition
causing great sadness and pity
heart-rending accounts of the disaster
Synonyms
moving,
sad,
distressing,
affecting,
tragic,
pathetic,
poignant,
harrowing,
heartbreaking,
pitiful,
gut-wrenching,
piteous
Additional synonyms
in the sense of heartbreaking
one of the most heartbreaking letters I have ever received
Synonyms
sad,
distressing,
tragic,
bitter,
poignant,
harrowing,
desolating,
grievous,
pitiful,
agonizing,
heart-rending,
gut-wrenching
in the sense of lamentable
Definition
very unfortunate or disappointing
This lamentable state of affairs lasted until 1947.
Synonyms
regrettable,
distressing,
tragic,
unfortunate,
harrowing,
grievous,
woeful,
deplorable,
mournful,
sorrowful,
gut-wrenching
in the sense of miserable
Definition
unhappy or depressed
She went to bed, miserable and depressed.
Synonyms
sad,
down,
low,
depressed,
distressed,
gloomy,
dismal,
afflicted,
melancholy,
heartbroken,
desolate,
forlorn,
mournful,
dejected,
broken-hearted,
despondent,
downcast,
sorrowful,
wretched,
disconsolate,
crestfallen,
doleful,
down in the dumps (informal),
woebegone,
down in the mouth (informal)
in the sense of mournful
Definition
(of a sound) suggestive or reminiscent of grief or sadness
the mournful wail of bagpipes
Synonyms
sad,
distressing,
unhappy,
tragic,
painful,
afflicting,
melancholy,
harrowing,
grievous,
woeful,
deplorable,
lamentable,
plaintive,
calamitous,
sorrowful,
piteous
in the sense of pathetic
Definition
arousing pity or sympathy
It was a pathetic sight, watching the people queue for food.
Synonyms
sad,
moving,
touching,
affecting,
distressing,
tender,
melting,
poignant,
harrowing,
heartbreaking,
plaintive,
heart-rending,
gut-wrenching,
pitiable
in the sense of pitiable
Definition
arousing or deserving pity or contempt
Her grandmother seemed to her a pitiable figure.
Synonyms
pathetic,
distressing,
miserable,
poor,
sorry,
sad,
dismal,
harrowing,
grievous,
woeful,
deplorable,
mournful,
lamentable,
gut-wrenching,
wretched,
doleful,
piteous
in the sense of regrettable
a regrettable incident
Synonyms
unfortunate,
wrong,
disappointing,
sad,
distressing,
unhappy,
shameful,
woeful,
deplorable,
ill-advised,
lamentable,
pitiable
in the sense of ruinous
Definition
causing ruin or destruction
the ruinous effects of the conflict
Synonyms
destructive,
devastating,
shattering,
fatal,
deadly,
disastrous,
dire,
withering,
catastrophic,
murderous,
pernicious (formal),
noxious,
calamitous,
baleful,
deleterious (formal),
injurious,
baneful (archaic)
in the sense of shocking
Definition
causing dismay or disgust
This was a shocking invasion of privacy.
Synonyms
appalling,
outrageous,
disgraceful,
offensive,
distressing,
disgusting,
horrible,
dreadful,
horrifying,
revolting,
obscene,
sickening,
ghastly,
hideous,
monstrous,
scandalous,
disquieting,
unspeakable,
atrocious,
repulsive,
nauseating,
odious,
loathsome,
abominable,
stupefying,
hellacious (US, slang)
in the sense of sorrowful
His father's face looked suddenly soft and sorrowful.
Synonyms
sad,
unhappy,
miserable,
sorry,
depressed,
painful,
distressed,
grieving,
dismal,
afflicted,
melancholy,
tearful,
heartbroken,
woeful,
mournful,
dejected,
rueful,
lugubrious,
wretched,
disconsolate,
doleful,
heavy-hearted,
down in the dumps (informal),
woebegone,
piteous,
sick at heart
Additional synonyms
in the sense of terrible
Definition
causing fear
Thousands suffered terrible injuries in the disaster.
Synonyms
awful,
shocking (informal),
appalling,
terrifying,
horrible,
dreadful,
horrifying,
dread (literary),
dreaded,
fearful (informal),
horrendous,
monstrous,
harrowing,
gruesome,
horrid (informal),
unspeakable,
frightful,
hellacious (US, slang)
in the sense of unfortunate
Definition
caused or accompanied by bad luck
Through some unfortunate accident, the information reached me a day late.