debacle

noun

dē-ˈbä-kəl How to pronounce debacle (audio)
variants also débâcle
Definition of debaclenext
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of debacle As mentioned earlier, a key contributor to this debacle is its complexity. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026 Bello’s last game for the Red Sox was the June 4 debacle that earned him a demotion to Triple-A Worcester. — Gabrielle Starr, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2026 The debacle with another city manager in Fort Lauderdale is not unique. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2026 And in that regard, Ferrari has utterly outdone itself, especially following the Luce EV debacle. — New Atlas, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for debacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debacle
  1. disaster
  2. failure
  3. catastrophe
  4. fiasco
  5. tragedy
  6. apocalypse
Noun
  • The whole administration of the capital is threatened by this disaster.
    — Andrei Popoviciu, The Dial, 23 July 2026
  • But simply hoping things will bounce back is a recipe for disaster.
    — Chris Adams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of disaster
Noun
  • The letter argues that openness prevents lock-in and that concentrating capability creates single points of failure.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • For Luis Javier Santos, the former head of UFERCO who investigated the case against Hernández, the former leader’s return represents a failure to prosecute him for his crimes, rather than a chance for justice.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
Definition of failure
Noun
  • California suffered a near catastrophe on pension debt during the great recession.
    — Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 25 July 2026
  • Members are also holding weekly evening vigils at the parish to draw attention to this latest Eastside environmental catastrophe.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of catastrophe
Noun
  • Several cruise fans flocked to Reddit to discuss the fork fiasco.
    — Perri Ormont Blumberg, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026
  • Nevada’s detractors argued that vote-counting there could take days, creating a fiasco in which the winner isn’t immediately known.
    — Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 24 July 2026
Definition of fiasco
Noun
  • The Pan American Health Organization has also warned of a prolonged health crisis following the tragedy related to mental health, infectious diseases and poor sanitation.
    — Alfie Pannell, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • Forged in the fire of tragedy, billionaire Bruce Wayne becomes something both more and less than human–the BATMAN.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 23 July 2026
Definition of tragedy
Noun
  • Long before OpenAI broke out of its test corral and hacked into Hugging Face, before the internet and Sam Altman were even born, Cameron wrote a screenplay about an autonomous artificial intelligence system that triggers a nuclear apocalypse.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
  • The simulator has options such as target practice, zombie apocalypse and even real-life self-defense scenarios.
    — Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 25 July 2026
Definition of apocalypse

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Cite this Entry

“Debacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacle. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of debacle for Spanish Speakers

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