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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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
In total, the airline shelled out more than $750 million for the debacle.
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Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
There were several occasions in the late 2000s/early 2010s when former Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany had to field questions about his league’s latest New Year’s Day debacle.
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
Women’s college volleyball debacle The San Jose State University Spartans in Fort Collins, Colo., on Oct. 3.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 30 Dec. 2024
Here are the entertainment industry’s top debacles, switcheroos, failures and downward trends of the year.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debacle 
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
There were several occasions in the late 2000s/early 2010s when former Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany had to field questions about his league’s latest New Year’s Day debacle.
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
Women’s college volleyball debacle The San Jose State University Spartans in Fort Collins, Colo., on Oct. 3.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 30 Dec. 2024
Here are the entertainment industry’s top debacles, switcheroos, failures and downward trends of the year.
—Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debacle
Noun
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Victims can apply for other forms of disaster assistance.Solcyré Burga, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
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As the potential new lead of the nation's federal national disaster response, Noem may also face questions about her handling of devastating floods in her state.Lexie Schapitl, NPR, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Green Bay, losers of two straight games, opened as a 3.5-point underdog, but that line has climbed to 4.5 points this week.Rob Reischel, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
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That would encourage a new period of aggression by Russia, China, North Korea, and a nuclear-capable Iran, in which America — and Trump — will be the losers.Trudy Rubin, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Marie says that Black Girls Breathing encourages Black women to find freedom despite systemic oppression, challenge perfectionism by reframing failure as an opportunity for growth, and redefine success on your own terms.Jameelah Nasheed, Essence, 13 Jan. 2025
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The suit was brought in Hawaii state court in March 2020, and Honolulu raised several claims under state law, including creating a public nuisance and failure to warn the public of the risks posed by their fossil fuel products.Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The tragedy is still under investigation in Argentina, where five people have been charged in connection with Payne's death, according to multiple outlets including the BBC.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
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That family tragedy at what seemed to be the end of his political career was a bookend to the one at its beginning, when his first wife and baby daughter, Naomi, were killed in a car crash.Susan Page, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Guaranteed there will be no repeat of last year’s Taylor Swift fiasco, when host Jo Koy told a joke at Taylor Swift’s expense in his opening monologue.Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 4 Jan. 2025
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If the Kings were going to write a script for how to turn Fox into a sympathetic figure in this whole fiasco, this would be it.Sam Amick, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The two experts spoke to The Times in 2017 when wildfires ravaged Northern California and again this week amid the unfolding calamity.Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
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The seemingly increasing number of both natural and manmade calamities happening around the world means that companies in a position to provide support and relief, like ours and others across different industries, will likely be called upon to do so more often.David Wajsgras, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Debacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacle. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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