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 findings offer a new perspective on one of history’s most famous military disasters.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Its experts worked hard to prepare for a variety of disasters, such as a freak weather event, a terrorist attack, or an airplane accidentally crashing into a reactor.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The director of Paris’ iconic Louvre Museum is facing scrutiny over apparent security failures that allowed thieves to make off with more than $100 million worth of jewels.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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Their failures have hit the private credit industry.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In the book, Malahy detailed the numerous catastrophes that surrounded the months spent filming the movie, a loose adaptation of Joseph Conrad's 1899 novella, Heart of Darkness, in the Philippines.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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For me, the experience is moving—like a glimmer of wild hope amid a conservation landscape dominated by the looming catastrophes to come of climate change.—
Eric J. Wallace,
Outside,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The losers in this round are Toby and our not-so-perfect Tom, who struggles the entire episode, which is strange for a man who is that good-looking.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
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And this time, unlike last year with the Steelers, his team walked away losers.—
Matt Schubert,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In some ways, Doug’s death signaled two tragedies, as Sage’s grand romance also came to a climax and an end over the course of Gen V’s season two finale.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
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Greek tragedies, Roman philosophy, African American literature, global masterpieces—these are not dusty relics.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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There have been some good movies, some pretty good movies, some disappointments and some dogs.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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One of my major disappointments in a lot of the writing was its humorlessness.—
Diya Chacko,
Oc Register,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The piling on of hurdles, unforeseen challenges, and calamities is almost ridiculous.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Debacles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacles. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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