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 loser
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debacle
Ellen Pompeo got an unexpected lesson on what snacks are safe to munch on in flight after a recent security debacle.
—
Moná Thomas, People.com, 2 June 2025
The two sides will argue over whether the president has the authority to direct the election commission, which was created by Congress as an independent agency after the Florida ballot debacle during the 2000 presidential election.
—Leah Willingham, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
The debacle went down as an era-defining humiliation for Warner Bros., once considered the most artist-friendly outfit in town.
—Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 2 June 2025
The 45% hike in the city’s current citywide minimum wage of $17.25 an hour would be a body blow to many employers — and the ongoing trash fee debacle shows no one should trust City Hall to be competent in crafting and executing any major policy.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for debacle
Moná Thomas, People.com, 2 June 2025
The two sides will argue over whether the president has the authority to direct the election commission, which was created by Congress as an independent agency after the Florida ballot debacle during the 2000 presidential election.
—Leah Willingham, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025
The debacle went down as an era-defining humiliation for Warner Bros., once considered the most artist-friendly outfit in town.
—Zak Cheney-Rice, Vulture, 2 June 2025
The 45% hike in the city’s current citywide minimum wage of $17.25 an hour would be a body blow to many employers — and the ongoing trash fee debacle shows no one should trust City Hall to be competent in crafting and executing any major policy.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for debacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debacle
Noun
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By ordering these strikes, Trump acted without congressional approval and in contradiction to his campaign promise to avoid the kind of disasters experienced in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
22 June 2025
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One of the factors that exacerbated the Chernobyl disaster was a design flaw within the nuclear reactor that exploded, Bernstein said, adding that the design is no longer used.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
21 June 2025
Noun
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All matches were best-of-two, and each player started with five minutes on the clock in the winners’ bracket, three minutes in the losers’ bracket, and both had one-second increments with each move (considered time to move the piece).—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
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While a loss won't eliminate either team, the winner will advance directly to the semifinals, while the loser will have to play an elimination game against the winner of Murray State vs. Arkansas.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
Noun
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Sometimes, this involves social engineering techniques that encourage people to compromise their own systems, but the root cause is often simple human error or a failure to implement best practices within increasingly complex and fragmented database estates.—
Jakub Lamik,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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But the glow of success, and even more so the pall of failure, is always shared.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Jacobson said the sorrow among Amira’s family and friends was tempered by a supportive community, including members of the Mosque Foundation who visited Richards after the tragedy.—
Janice Neumann,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
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A couple enjoying a relaxing countryside vacation with their three dogs had the trip thrown into chaos when tragedy struck.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Noun
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Officials will be checking to make sure drivers who enter the property have tickets for the event, hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s fiasco at the Copa America final, where unticketed fans were able to rush into the stadium, overwhelming officers.—
Vivienne Serret,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
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Trump’s opponents are already depicting this fiasco as emblematic of an administration that loves to shoot itself in the foot, then put the bloody foot in its mouth.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2025
Noun
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That sum builds on amounts given after other recent calamities, including the 2023 Maui fires and last year’s hurricanes in the Southeast.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
15 June 2025
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May 27, 2025 1:45 PM PT Myriad calamities could hit the city of Los Angeles in coming years: Wildfires.—
Matt Hamilton,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacle. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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