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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of debacle
In total, the airline shelled out more than $750 million for the 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 
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
-
Victims can apply for other forms of disaster assistance.—
Solcyré Burga,
TIME,
17 Jan. 2025
-
But in return for protection against another worst-case weather scenario, insurers would have to sell comprehensive coverage and invest in community disaster resilience.—
Carmen Balber,
Rolling Stone,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Of course, there was at least one huge financial loser in all of this: insurance companies.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
23 Jan. 2025
-
That merely raises the dangerous specter of future lawless conduct by other poor losers and undermines the rule of law.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
That has received sharp rebuke from California leaders and water experts who point out that Los Angeles’ water supply is flush after two rainy years, and statewide water supply questions have no relationship to municipal water system failures during the Palisades fire.—
Ari Plachta,
Sacramento Bee,
25 Jan. 2025
-
The first crisis was marked by a slew of failures among banks and thrifts in the early 1980s.—
Russ Wiles,
USA TODAY,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The GoFundMe appeal continues to raise donations from well-wishers keen to help the family move on from the tragedy.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
-
All these years later, through prosperity and tragedy and a rebirth with the Chiefs, Reid has become what might be considered a coaching version of Picasso — one of the most influential and successful forces ever at their craft.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Another calamity hit just days into the search, when a C-47 crashed south of Whitehorse.—
Francine Uenuma,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 Jan. 2025
-
Perhaps this is also key to rebounding from this latest calamity.—
Shawn Hubler,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2025
Articles Related to debacle
Thesaurus Entries Near debacle
Cite this Entry
“Debacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacle. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share