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 Vang’s deportation, as confirmed Friday by Rubio and DHS, brings the debacle full circle. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 July 2026 What’s left — besides finding a Democrat to run in his place — is figuring out what, if anything, can be learned from this debacle. — Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 The recent debacle over the US’ desire to acquire Greenland has left Europe also seized with the need to shape its own defensce, yet another wrinkle for Moscow. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 This debacle is the subject of The Drive‘s latest YouTube video, hosted by my friend (and boss) Kyle Cheromcha. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for debacle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debacle

Noun

Daniel had arrived back in Venezuela the day of the disaster, after being deported from the United States.

— Susana Erazo, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
The discrepancy is even more apparent when analyzing major disaster declarations based on presidential elections.

— David A. Lieb, Fortune, 16 July 2026

Definition of disaster

Noun

Given Zidane won the Champions League in three successive years as coach of Real Madrid, anything less than victory at the European Championship in 2028 will be considered a failure.

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 19 July 2026
At the time he was arrested, authorities had issued a separate warrant for Milton stemming from his failure to appear in court and alleged curfew violations in a retail theft case, court records show.

— Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 18 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

Delivery had been delayed as the city grappled with the tragedy, a small but unforgettable reminder that Atlanta’s celebration had changed overnight.

— Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
Yellowstone sees the most deaths during the tourist months running from May through October, with July featuring nearly 25 percent of all recorded tragedies.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 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 20 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

raffish

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

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’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

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