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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debacle
Many could make the case that, after the playoff debacle last season against the Green Bay Packers, McCarthy shouldn’t have been brought back to even run out the final year of his deal.
—
Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
That tent city debacle is a blueprint for what not to do.
—Gerard S. Williams, Sun Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2025
This caps off a year in which federal politicians zeroed in on private equity ownership of health-care providers, including the Steward Health debacle, and pushes Congress one step closer to new regulations.
—Caitlin Owens, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
But three months later, Sonos’ board of directors and Spence have concluded that those steps weren’t enough: the app debacle has officially cost Spence his job.
—Chris Welch, The Verge, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for debacle 
Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025
That tent city debacle is a blueprint for what not to do.
—Gerard S. Williams, Sun Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2025
This caps off a year in which federal politicians zeroed in on private equity ownership of health-care providers, including the Steward Health debacle, and pushes Congress one step closer to new regulations.
—Caitlin Owens, Axios, 15 Jan. 2025
But three months later, Sonos’ board of directors and Spence have concluded that those steps weren’t enough: the app debacle has officially cost Spence his job.
—Chris Welch, The Verge, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for debacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debacle
Noun
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And the nation marked 39 years since the Challenger disaster.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA TODAY,
29 Jan. 2025
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The trailer has tipped most of the big gags, from the disaster at the dock to Jim wrestling an alligator, but Stoller’s script is strong enough that the movie’s pleasures are far from spoiled.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Of course, there was at least one huge financial loser in all of this: insurance companies.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
23 Jan. 2025
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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
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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
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Most interpreted that as a failure to engineer a better pass rush through blitzing, something the 49ers rarely did.—
Matt Barrows,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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Drawing the Line Against Russia Mr. Blinken’s first test, the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, was widely seen as a fiasco.—
Edward Wong,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
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That sequence was eerily similar to a goal-line fiasco against Ohio State.—
Audrey Snyder,
The Athletic,
10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Another calamity hit just days into the search, when a C-47 crashed south of Whitehorse.—
Francine Uenuma,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 Jan. 2025
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Perhaps this is also key to rebounding from this latest calamity.—
Shawn Hubler,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Debacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacle. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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