train wreck
noun
variants
or less commonly trainwreck
plural train wrecks also trainwrecks
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
Fareed ZakariaThe 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
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
Elizabeth DrewExamples of train wreck in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The end of that Warriors tilt was like watching a train wreck in slow motion.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 23 Feb. 2026
Our idols were allowed to either be good girls—militantly wholesome and seemingly virginal—or train wrecks, unmoored and wild, and thus subjected to a litany of bullying and ridicule for their actions.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2026
Deadly Mexico train wreck underscores corruption fears At least 13 died and dozens were injured in Mexico when a train derailed on a line beset by corruption allegations.
—semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
David Zaslav ⬆ For two years, Wall Street and Hollywood alike called his merger of Discovery with Time Warner a train wreck as debt ballooned and the stock cratered.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for train wreck
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Troy Renck, Denver Post, 23 Feb. 2026
Our idols were allowed to either be good girls—militantly wholesome and seemingly virginal—or train wrecks, unmoored and wild, and thus subjected to a litany of bullying and ridicule for their actions.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 17 Feb. 2026
Deadly Mexico train wreck underscores corruption fears At least 13 died and dozens were injured in Mexico when a train derailed on a line beset by corruption allegations.
—semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
David Zaslav ⬆ For two years, Wall Street and Hollywood alike called his merger of Discovery with Time Warner a train wreck as debt ballooned and the stock cratered.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for train wreck
Cite this Entry
“Train wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/train%20wreck. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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