Synonyms of debacles

debacles

noun

variants also débâcles

plural of debacle

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

• disasters
• catastrophes
• tragedies
• apocalypses
• calamities
• accidents
• collapses
• crashes
• fatalities
• cataclysms
• upheavals
• casualties
• bloodbaths
• meltdowns
• misfortunes
• misadventures
• convulsions
• mishaps
• blows
• end-times
• doomsdays
• Armageddons
• paroxysms
• mischances
• double whammies
• blasts
• one-twos

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• windfalls
• godsends
• mannas

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

• disasters
• failures
• disappointments
• catastrophes
• fiascoes
• bombs
• losers
• busts
• shipwrecks
• flops
• washouts
• frosts
• misses
• duds
• lemons
• messes
• clinkers
• bummers
• clunkers
• turkeys
• fizzles
• dogs
• shambles
• botches
• hashes
• has-beens
• near misses
• also-rans
• muddles
• nonevents
• nonstarters

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• successes
• hits
• winners
• blockbusters
• phenomena
• smashes
• dandies
• corkers
• crackerjacks
• jim-dandies

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of debacles

Otherwise, the Democrats’ showing in the campaign has amounted to a pileup of debacles. — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026

The one tiny potential upside of the populist movement was its apparent reluctance to plunge the nation into foreign debacles. — Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026

From shocking district alignments to puzzling travel debacles, many coaches were left shaking their heads in disbelief. — Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 3 Feb. 2026

Several similar debacles have plagued the team over the last six years, but this one may just take the cake. — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026

Reduced runway capacity and de-icing debacles, with the airport’s supplies of de-icing fluid at one point running low this week, also have contributed to flight backlogs, creating a domino effect across flight networks in Europe and beyond. — Blane Bachelor, AFAR Media, 8 Jan. 2026

After the Utah and Arizona debacles, CU fans have been looking for a reason to stay invested. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025

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