variants
also débâcle
1
as in disaster
a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction
the financial debacle that was the stock market crash of 1929
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in failure
something that has failed
the movie, which some had predicted would be a blockbuster, turned out to be the summer's biggest debacle at the multiplexes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debacle
The Seoul Central Court had previously convicted two other members of Yoon’s Cabinet in connection with the martial law debacle.
—
Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Caldwell's Lady Vols beat Missouri by 45 points four days after the South Carolina debacle.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
But the debacle illustrates what artists are up against.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
There was a debacle of a survey done used for an appraisal by Farm Credit East.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debacle
Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
Caldwell's Lady Vols beat Missouri by 45 points four days after the South Carolina debacle.
—ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
But the debacle illustrates what artists are up against.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
There was a debacle of a survey done used for an appraisal by Farm Credit East.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debacle
Noun
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And the bipartisan Washington consensus eschews reforms in favor of praying that the economy magically grows its way out of this fiscal disaster.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Hundreds of agency staff, including those involved with disaster recovery efforts, have been grounded.—
Brianna Sacks,
Washington Post,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Increasingly, the aging building has been experiencing system failures that include the boilers and chillers, electrical infrastructure, plumbing and roof leaks, the City Council was told.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
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Defense attorneys say the inter-agency failure is allowing criminals to escape accountability, while federal judges warn the practice is violating defendants’ constitutional rights.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Another kit fiasco for Man Utd Manchester United had to make a game day switch to their uniforms against Atletico Madrid last week.—
Emily Olsen,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Was the Beijing fiasco still haunting her?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Johnny’s life was cut short in a tragedy that still feels impossible to process — struck and killed by a car while riding his bicycle.—
Peter Folan,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
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Victim families are deeply disappointed and warn that without action, another tragedy is inevitable.—
Josh Funk,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Yang went so far as to urge anyone in mid-career management, particularly those who own homes in the affluent burbs of Silicon Valley or Westchester County, New York to put there house up for sale now, to avoid the mad scramble once the labor apocalypse hits.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
19 Feb. 2026
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Shawn, famous for his moral compass, diagnoses the world on a lucky/unlucky axis, and imagines the upside of apocalypse.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacle. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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