train wreck

noun

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variants: or less commonly trainwreck \ ˈtrān-ˌrek

plural train wrecks also trainwrecks

Definition of train wreck

1 : a violent and destructive crash involving a train

2 : an utter disaster or mess : a disastrous calamity or source of trouble Six months later, with Washington facing a political train wreck in Iraq, whom did it call? The United Nations.— Fareed Zakaria The train wreck that was Florence Ballard could not be hidden anymore. … Those shows went on without a hitch, but with Ballard progressively drinking harder, disaster awaited them as they trekked from Miami to play several college dates across the South.— Mark Ballard … to create what is termed on Capitol Hill a train wreck—a budget crisis so awful that the President would have to seriously negotiate, and yield on taxes.— Elizabeth Drew

Examples of train wreck in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web It’s a train wreck, and a serious disservice is being done to students. — Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2022 The performances in Las Vegas range from spectacular to train wreck as Presley discovers he’s been ripped off. — Troy L. Smith, cleveland, 22 June 2022 Their post-pandemic economy is a historic train wreck. — Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 25 May 2022 Combined, these truths mean that trying to change your form by thinking about it will almost always end up with a less-efficient stride—if not a downright dangerous train wreck. — Jonathan Beverly, Outside Online, 30 June 2021 This slow-motion train wreck first began in November 2019 when Gotabaya Rajapaksa won a decisive victory in the country’s presidential elections. — Steve H. Hanke, National Review, 19 Apr. 2022 Yes, some conventionally bad teams may be higher on this list, because who doesn’t love to watch a train wreck happen in real time? — Mary Clarke, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2021 The Laffer article warned that this policy would wreak economic havoc and cause a stock-market train wreck. — Arthur Laffer And Stephen Moore, WSJ, 1 May 2022 To say nothing of the train wreck fascination that will cause viewers to briefly tune in next year, curious about what chaos might once again ensue. — Andy Meek, BGR, 29 Mar. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'train wreck.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.