student asking question

Would it sound awkward if I say "catastrophe," "disaster" or "calamity" instead of "tragedy" in this context?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

It may sound a little awkward in this context, yes! In other contexts it may work. But it doesn't here because "tragedy" implies something that is sad as well as "disastrous," whereas "catastrophe," "disaster," and "calamity" don't necessarily mean that something is sad. You could, however, call it a "catastrophe" and describe it as "tragic!" Ex: The car crash was a tragic disaster. Ex: The hurricane caused a huge catastrophe! In some cases, it was tragic. Ex: A: This is a disaster. I left my bag at home. => dramatic tone B: Oh, how tragic. => sarcastic tone

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