tragic

Sometimes trag·i·cal

[traj-ik]

adjective

1. characteristic or suggestive of tragedy.

   tragic solemnity.

   Antonyms: comic

2. extremely mournful, melancholy, or pathetic.

   a tragic plight.

   Synonyms: pitiful
   Antonyms: comic

3. dreadful, calamitous, disastrous, or fatal.

   a tragic event.

   Antonyms: comic

4. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or of the nature of tragedy.

   the tragic drama.

5. acting in or writing tragedy.

   a tragic actor; a tragic poet.

noun

1. the tragic, the element or quality of tragedy in literature, art, drama, etc..

   lives that had never known anything but the tragic.

tragic

/ ˈtrædʒɪk, ˈtrædʒɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of tragedy

2. mournful or pitiable

   a tragic face

Other Word Forms

• tragically adverb
• tragicalness noun
• hypertragic adjective
• hypertragical adjective
• hypertragically adverb
• nontragic adjective
• nontragical adjective
• nontragically adverb
• nontragicalness noun
• quasi-tragic adjective
• quasi-tragically adverb
• supertragic adjective
• supertragically adverb
• untragic adjective
• untragical adjective
• untragically adverb
• untragicalness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tragic¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin tragicus, from Greek tragikós “of tragedy,” from trág(os) “goat” + -ikos -ic; tragedy ( def. )

Example Sentences

The loss of potential new aerospace investment is tragic.

From Los Angeles Times

The vessel sailed on to New Zealand, where the tragic end of the Terra Nova expedition was announced to the world.

From BBC

Set during a tragic moment in L.A.’s recent history and as topical as today’s news, the Lincoln Lawyer is more relevant than ever.

From Los Angeles Times

"You can see his situation. It's so tragic. The earthquake was deadly. I want the doctors to treat him, to cure him," said the child's uncle, Khawat Gul.

From BBC

Police said his next of kin had been informed and officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed the "deeply tragic incident" to come forward.

From BBC

Related Words

• appalling 
• awful 
• calamitous 
• cataclysmic 
• deadly 
• deplorable 
• destructive 
• dire 
• disastrous 
• dreadful 
• fatal 
• fateful 
• grievous 
• grim 
• harrowing 
• heartbreaking 
• miserable 
• painful 
• pathetic 
• pitiful