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Definition of tragicomic

tragicomic

/ˌtrædʒɪˈkɒmɪk/
tra · gi · com · ic
Adverb:tragicomically
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tragicomic Lexical Profile

tragicomic Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Manifesting both tragic and comic elements; simultaneously sad or distressing and humorous.

Example

"The novel offers a tragicomic portrayal of a family trying to maintain appearances during financial ruin."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for tragicomic

• Rhymes for tragicomic

• Nearby Words

tragical
tragically
tragicomedy
tragicomic
tragicomical
tragicomically
tragopan

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 16th century from Middle French tragicomique, derived from Late Latin tragicomoedia, a playful compound coined by the Roman playwright Plautus from tragicus ('tragic') and comoedia ('comedy').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tragicomic. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tragicomic
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