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 consequences unfolded like a slow-motion train wreck.
—Shilpa Shastri, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Former warden slams ‘train wreck’ at jail that allowed serial escape artist, nine others to break out.
—FOXNews.com, 27 May 2025
Later, Brandon Nimmo reached base on a train wreck of a defensive play by the Dodgers, allowing the Mets to score and take a 5-4 lead.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Watching recent events unfold at the U.S. Air Force Academy is like having front row seats to a slow-motion train wreck.
—Kent Murphy, Denver Post, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for train wreck
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Shilpa Shastri, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Former warden slams ‘train wreck’ at jail that allowed serial escape artist, nine others to break out.
—FOXNews.com, 27 May 2025
Later, Brandon Nimmo reached base on a train wreck of a defensive play by the Dodgers, allowing the Mets to score and take a 5-4 lead.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Watching recent events unfold at the U.S. Air Force Academy is like having front row seats to a slow-motion train wreck.
—Kent Murphy, Denver Post, 25 May 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 5 Jul. 2025.
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