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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of debacle
Only days before the group text debacle, one of its key figures, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, extolled the Trump team’s professionalism on live television while standing next to the commander-in-chief in the Oval Office.
—
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025
In four games going into Monday’s tilt against his old Sabres team, he’s shown his skill, especially on the power play, notching a point in his first three games as a Bruin (1-2-3) before Saturday’s team-wide debacle against the Lightning.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
In the grit and sweat of the city’s work, a charter might prevent debacles such as the city’s giveaway of its parking meters, or even the midnight destruction of Meigs Field.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
Several Democratic senators, including Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), have attempted to use the debacle to illustrate a lack of Republican control over national security.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debacle
Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2025
In four games going into Monday’s tilt against his old Sabres team, he’s shown his skill, especially on the power play, notching a point in his first three games as a Bruin (1-2-3) before Saturday’s team-wide debacle against the Lightning.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
In the grit and sweat of the city’s work, a charter might prevent debacles such as the city’s giveaway of its parking meters, or even the midnight destruction of Meigs Field.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
Several Democratic senators, including Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), have attempted to use the debacle to illustrate a lack of Republican control over national security.
—Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debacle
Noun
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Last month, the EU Commission urged its 450 million citizens to stockpile enough food, water and essentials for 72 hours in the event of emergencies like cyberattacks, climate disasters, disease and also geopolitical conflicts.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
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The disaster led to passage of the Federal Coal Mine and Safety Act, which in turn added the miners' surveillance program under the respiratory health division at NIOSH.—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Zuckerberg topped the list of the biggest losers by dollars, down $17.9 billion as Meta shares took a hit in the sell-off.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
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Big losers in the tech sector seeing declines were Amazon (-6.8%), Apple (-8.2%), Meta (-7.4%), Alphabet (-3.6%) and Nvidia (-5.7%).—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Depending on the med, this can include serious health hazards like liver and muscle damage or even kidney failure.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
7 Apr. 2025
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The lack of storm planning included a failure to test backup equipment that could be needed in the event of a power outage.—
Karri Peifer,
Axios,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Kilmer’s passion for performing was fostered early — during an active, adventurous childhood in Chatsworth, Calif., making homemade films and plays alongside his brothers Mark and Wesley — and also shaped by tragedy.—
Kara Warner,
People.com,
2 Apr. 2025
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The Room Next Door shares the same theme, allowing director Pedro Almodóvar to address Covid-era tragedy, much as directing team Scott McGehee and David Siegel do in The Friend.—
Armond White,
National Review,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Note that not a single member involved in the texting fiasco, including at least one top official who appears to have participated while traveling in Russia, was sensible enough to question their collective lack of operational security.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2025
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And to be clear: Butler deserves far more of the blame for his fiasco, because of his deplorable behavior in his final months with the Heat.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The historical upward trajectory of the stock market has reduced the greatest economic calamity in U.S. history into a blip.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
7 Apr. 2025
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The Southeast Asian region continues to grapple with the calamity's aftereffects.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacle. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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