tragic
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.causing great sadness or suffering, especially because it involves death or a terrible accident.
adj.characterised by or causing extreme distress or sorrow, typically involving death, destruction, or a calamitous event.
Simple“The news reported a tragic accident on the motorway that claimed three lives.”
In context“The community struggled to process the tragic loss of the local library, which had served as a cultural hub for over a century.”
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.relating to a serious play or story that has a very sad ending.
adj.pertaining to the genre of tragedy in literature or drama, specifically involving the downfall of a protagonist.
Simple“The play follows a tragic hero who loses everything because of his pride.”
In context“Scholars often debate whether the protagonist's downfall is a result of fate or a specific tragic flaw in his character.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
adj.very embarrassing, uncool, or showing a lack of style.
adj.indicative of a chronic lack of social awareness or style; used to describe someone perceived as pathetic or 'try-hard'.
Simple“He wore a neon tracksuit to the wedding, which was just tragic.”
In context“Her desperate attempts to stay relevant on social media by using outdated slang were widely considered tragic by her younger peers.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.someone who is extremely interested in a specific hobby or sport, often to an embarrassing level.
n.a person who is obsessively devoted to a particular interest, hobby, or sports team.
Simple“My uncle is a total cricket tragic and never misses a single match.”
In context“As a self-confessed political tragic, he spends his weekends reading obscure policy papers and watching live parliamentary debates.”
UsageCommonly used in Australian English, often in the phrase 'cricket tragic'.
Teacher's tipThis is a specific regionalism from Australia; outside of that context, it might be misunderstood as meaning someone who has suffered a disaster.
Usage tragic death · tragic passing · tragic news
“The vice-chancellor of world-leading Cambridge University said in a statement on Saturday that Arday’s death was “tragic”.”
From Ancient Greek τραγικός (tragikós, “of or relating to tragedy”), from τράγος (trágos, “male goat”), a reference to the goat-satyrs of the theatrical plays of the Dorians.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.