variants
also débâcle
1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loser
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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of debacle
The pivot to health care had been going swimmingly until the 2021 breathing machine debacle.
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Byphil Wahba, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2024
The resulting correction parallels the deflation of Japan’s real estate bubble in the 1990s and the American housing and credit derivative debacle in 2008.
—Drew Bernstein, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Somewhere in the middle, President Biden dropped out of the race after being pushed aside by fellow Democrats following his debate debacle — a group that included former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to George Clooney.
—Noah Bressner, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
July 2: After Kristi Noem's debacle, a second dog makes headlines.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debacle 
Byphil Wahba, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2024
The resulting correction parallels the deflation of Japan’s real estate bubble in the 1990s and the American housing and credit derivative debacle in 2008.
—Drew Bernstein, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Somewhere in the middle, President Biden dropped out of the race after being pushed aside by fellow Democrats following his debate debacle — a group that included former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to George Clooney.
—Noah Bressner, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
July 2: After Kristi Noem's debacle, a second dog makes headlines.
—Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debacle
Noun
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Going to space after the Columbia disaster Eileen Collins’ fourth and final mission came on the heels of the tragic Columbia disaster.Dr. Ruth Gotian, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
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As the film reminds us, any number of iffy career choices, like that role in the cinematic disaster that was Sgt.David Browne, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
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When Louie led high diamonds, hoping to pitch his club loser, West ruffed the third diamond and led a club to East.Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
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Trump had a domineering, workaholic father who split the world into two groups: killers and losers.Alex Thompson, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Real failure is letting your ego drive the bus of your life right off the cliff.Kate Guadagnino, New York Times, 21 Nov. 2024
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The failure of Rodgers to produce anywhere close to his usual level while with the Packers will be a stain on Douglas’ resume.Dennis Waszak Jr., Twin Cities, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
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That tragedy impacts the family deeply, especially her brother Joe, who last saw her.Lizz Schumer, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
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After a personal tragedy, Proffitt wanted to center LGBTQ rights in his campaign — even in a reliably Republican district.Serena Lin, Them, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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In the aftermath, Freeman dissected every millisecond of Irish practices, meetings and gatherings in general, stretching from the end of their impressive 23-13 thumping of then-No. 20 Texas A&M on the road through the opening kickoff of the Northern Illinois fiasco.Terence Moore, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
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Instead, Guerra found a raggedy green wig in his closet that reminded him of the fiasco Willy Wonka experience in Scotland that went viral earlier this year.Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
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As a new video came to light Monday showing the chaos and calamity of a ferry gangway collapse on a historic Georgia island that left seven senior citizens dead and three critically injured, survivors shared harrowing details of the disaster.Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2024
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But Smith, who is the vice president and treasurer of the Wrightwood Fire Safe Council, saw potential for calamity, as winds were forecast to pick up.Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Debacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacle. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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