tragicomic

adjective

tragi·​com·​ic ˌtra-ji-ˈkä-mik How to pronounce tragicomic (audio)
variants or less commonly tragicomical
1
: of, relating to, or resembling tragicomedy
2
: manifesting both tragic and comic aspects

Examples of tragicomic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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So don't expect premeditated murder, exactly – but there may well be some dialogue sharp enough to draw blood in this tragicomic debut novel. Colin Dwyer, NPR, 1 Apr. 2025 Cox then recounted the tragicomic story that's held her back all these years from finding freedom on the open road. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2025 Strong’s interpretation of Roy Cohn in The Apprentice was tragicomic and frightening stuff. David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025 Tanya’s accidental drowning after getting sweet murderous vengeance on her con-men was an ending fit for the tragicomic heroine of a kind of Italian opera. Judy Berman, TIME, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tragicomic

Word History

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tragicomic was in 1567

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Cite this Entry

“Tragicomic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tragicomic. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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