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
Example 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
Four years later, the debacle is clearly something Lovato can chuckle about, along with the rest of what ChatGPT had to say.
—
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 Mar. 2025
But the exogenous blow of 9/11 and the debacle of the collateralized mortgage bubble popping in 2008 created an image of the Federal Reserve as the entity that could and should cure all economic ills.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2025
At the end of the debacle, Chelsea came out a winner.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025
Zelensky has sought to repair relations with Trump following the Oval Office debacle, the fallout from which has included Trump halting military assistance to Ukraine and cutting off intelligence sharing with the Ukrainians, harming Kyiv’s ability to hit high-value Russian targets.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debacle
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 Mar. 2025
But the exogenous blow of 9/11 and the debacle of the collateralized mortgage bubble popping in 2008 created an image of the Federal Reserve as the entity that could and should cure all economic ills.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2025
At the end of the debacle, Chelsea came out a winner.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2025
Zelensky has sought to repair relations with Trump following the Oval Office debacle, the fallout from which has included Trump halting military assistance to Ukraine and cutting off intelligence sharing with the Ukrainians, harming Kyiv’s ability to hit high-value Russian targets.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debacle
Noun
-
However, he’s also had his share of expensive disasters, such as Joao Felix, Santiago Arias and Nikola Kalinić.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
-
All the while, he’s typically dressed in a form-fitting dress, a shoulder-length wig and heeled boots (because open-toed shoes around hatchets and augers could spell disaster).—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Since turkeys can’t ask the typical first-date questions to field out the losers, hens have to rely on something else.—
Alice Jones Webb,
Outdoor Life,
21 Mar. 2025
-
The fact these losers want to jail Andrew and Tristan Tate for preaching their version of traditional masculinity highlights the fact that these fascist feminists are fragile weaklings incapable of defending their position in the free marketplace of ideas.—
David Catanese,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Both Bhattacharya and Makary are outsiders from their respective public health agencies, each of which has been targeted for substantial reforms by Republicans following widespread policy failures and declining trust following the COVID-19 pandemic era.—
Gabrielle M. Etzel,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
26 Mar. 2025
-
For many Democrats in Congress, the failure to hold Trump’s national security team accountable signals a broader disregard for truth and accountability.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
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
-
There’s the Hail Mary fiasco and its fallout, but Stevenson also continued to rotate with Smith last season.—
Kevin Fishbain,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the calamity over the fees themselves, U.S. sentiment toward the actions against China are largely supported by citizens and lawmakers across parties—especially the latter, which have introducing bipartisan legislation to revitalize American shipbuilding.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Wildcat Dome’s characters can’t escape the calamities that marked their lives—and their country’s history.—
Robert Rubsam,
The Atlantic,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacle. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share