tragic flaw

noun

: a flaw in character that brings about the downfall of the hero of a tragedy

Examples of tragic flaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Many people think of parent-child relationships as the most formative ones—the source of attachment styles, daddy issues, tragic flaws. Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2024 The political actors onstage in Milwaukee wore their tragic flaws on their sleeves. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2023 That tendency toward self-critique may ultimately have been the tragic flaw of Menand’s midcentury creatives. Beverly Gage, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021 Thomas is selfless and fearless in his quest to do good, but his tragic flaws of hubris, stubbornness and self-destructiveness become his undoing. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2023 His obsession proved his tragic flaw. Pablo Sandoval, Variety, 3 Oct. 2022 Yet that benefit concealed a tragic flaw. Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 24 Aug. 2022 There’s some tragic flaw there. Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2021 Eddie is the Oberyn Martell of Stranger Things: a colorful, big personality with a tragic flaw. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 July 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tragic flaw was in 1913

Dictionary Entries Near tragic flaw

Cite this Entry

“Tragic flaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tragic%20flaw. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tragic flaw

noun
: a defect in the character of a good person (as the hero of a tragedy) that causes his or her destruction

More from Merriam-Webster on tragic flaw

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!