variants
also débâcles
1
as in disasters
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 failures
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
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Recent Examples of debacles
Those debacles not only angered voters but showed to the bond markets that Labour would struggle to shore up Britain’s public finances.
—
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Japan is also looking at political uncertainty as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to step down, following electoral debacles that saw the ruling Liberal Democratic Party lose its majority in both the lower and upper houses of parliament.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
Property tax debacles Legislators and other panelists were split on how the recall could affect ongoing discourse around property tax valuations in Jackson County.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
After two playoff debacles, a track record of poor play against quality teams during his tenure and a season of disappointment in 2024, the coach must direct his team toward a strong rebound this week against the New England Patriots.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
But overall, history provides numerous examples of politicians, especially in autocracies, who can survive military debacles.
—John Mueller, Foreign Affairs, 29 Nov. 2022
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
Japan is also looking at political uncertainty as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to step down, following electoral debacles that saw the ruling Liberal Democratic Party lose its majority in both the lower and upper houses of parliament.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025
Property tax debacles Legislators and other panelists were split on how the recall could affect ongoing discourse around property tax valuations in Jackson County.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
After two playoff debacles, a track record of poor play against quality teams during his tenure and a season of disappointment in 2024, the coach must direct his team toward a strong rebound this week against the New England Patriots.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
But overall, history provides numerous examples of politicians, especially in autocracies, who can survive military debacles.
—John Mueller, Foreign Affairs, 29 Nov. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debacles
Noun
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The organization focuses on the big disasters that often grip the headlines, such as wildfires, floods, and hurricanes – but also offers information about preparing for winter storms, tsunamis, tornados, lightning, hail and extreme heat.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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The difference, however, is that in wealthier nations, these kinds of disasters often trigger investment in storm drains, soil stabilization or relocation.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Recently, researchers in China created two new AI systems to improve the safety and efficiency of fusion energy experiments by predicting plasma failures with extreme accuracy.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Oct. 2025
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Overproduction comes from forecasting failures or execution mistakes, said Chan, adding that AI is not just about better demand predictions, but helping businesses make real-time decisions with accuracy.—
Lauren Parker,
Sourcing Journal,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And with right guard James Daniels and right tackle Austin Jackson sidelined by injuries, replacements Cole Strange and Larry Borom didn’t cause any catastrophes, though Borom wasn’t great.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
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The season 8 finale saw Bobby's family, friends, and colleagues healing in the aftermath, but the impact of his passing will no doubt color the catastrophes awaiting our heroes.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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However, one of the reasons the Red Sox were 4-3 losers to the Yankees is that Cora can’t pull a lever that’ll ensure that his players — such as, oh, Ceddanne Rafaela — deliver a sacrifice bunt in a key situation.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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The losers will go back to their camps, votes intact, while the winner wins a little something-something.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In response to recurring tragedies, the Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth (STURDY) Act was signed into law in 2022.—
News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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The classical tragedies were drawn from Greek mythology and legend, right?—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Don’t let past disappointments hold you back.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
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But which teams have been the biggest disappointments?—
David Ubben,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In the episode, eight of the nine ringers suffer calamities on the eve of the game which preclude their participation, with Sax held on comically-unfounded suspicion of committing approximately 600 murders in the New York City area.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
28 Sep. 2025
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These calamities drastically reduce the genetic diversity in a group.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debacles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacles. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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