DEBACLE Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

debacle

noun

dē-ˈbä-kəl

variants also débâcle

Definition of debacle

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also fallen foul of Germany’s World Cup elimination by Paraguay, after stumbling into a social media debacle following a communications blunder. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 1 July 2026 The debacle quickly became a flashpoint for the Conservative religious right. — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 27 June 2026 The San Francisco Giants' Pride Night debacle just keeps getting worse thanks to team President and CEO Larry Baer. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026 Many blame him for the debacle that marked the chaotic end of 20 years of military involvement. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for debacle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debacle

Noun

Modern networks are more resilient in disasters, an AT&T spokesman said, because they can be restored faster and are less vulnerable to damage and copper theft.

— Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Burnham launched a government inquiry that found police failures, not the victims themselves, were responsible for the disaster.

— Lauren Frayer, NPR, 9 July 2026

Definition of disaster

Noun

Any actions against those responsible for the structural failure are pending the results of the ongoing investigation, the Department of Buildings said earlier this week.

— Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
The notion of remaining in your childhood home well into your adult years carries an enduring stigma, suggesting a failure to launch.

— Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 11 July 2026

Definition of failure

Noun

In the work of fiction, the ship is taken over to prevent catastrophe.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
The young girls are referred to as Heaven’s 27 by their surviving families, who are determined to honor their legacy by ensuring such a catastrophe never happens again.

— Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Noun

Harry's decision comes amid an ongoing security fiasco concerning the safety of Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

— Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 July 2026
Add in a fiasco of a camp, where celebrities had access to the team’s hotel, and subpar performances in defeats against Uruguay, Russia and Saudi Arabia, and the hoodoo appeared stronger than ever.

— Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of fiasco

Noun

In a statement Wednesday evening, DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson called the death a tragedy and said the county remains committed to transparency and integrity.

— Caroline Silva, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
With two children dying so far this summer after being left inside cars during South Florida’s sweltering heat season, experts are urging parents and other caregivers to take a series of steps to prevent tragedies.

— David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026

Definition of tragedy

Noun

The same year, another, longer-running TV version focused on the story of survivors after an alien apocalypse that had wiped out most of the Earth's population.

— Richard Edwards, Space.com, 4 July 2026
Closing the Manhattan Bridge, diverting traffic, and managing the safety of staging a zombie apocalypse downtown required the cooperation and manpower of multiple agencies with their own sets of pressing priorities and responsibilities.

— Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 30 June 2026

Definition of apocalypse

Browse Nearby Words

deb

debacle

debacles

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related to debacle

Cite this Entry

Style

“Debacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacle. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of debacle

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

12 Words Whose History Will Surprise You

Words You See But Don't Hear

Words of the Week - March 4

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on debacle

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

loquacious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes