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 failure
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
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Recent Examples of debacle
The San Francisco Giants' Pride Night debacle just keeps getting worse thanks to team President and CEO Larry Baer.
—
Jon Root Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
Many blame him for the debacle that marked the chaotic end of 20 years of military involvement.
—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
25 June 2026
One section of the book centers on the freakout over the Epstein files debacle.
—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
23 June 2026
The continual debacle surrounding the Epstein files and the speed of political retribution by the Justice Department seem to be two of the leading reasons.
—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for debacle
Jon Root Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
Many blame him for the debacle that marked the chaotic end of 20 years of military involvement.
—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
25 June 2026
One section of the book centers on the freakout over the Epstein files debacle.
—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
23 June 2026
The continual debacle surrounding the Epstein files and the speed of political retribution by the Justice Department seem to be two of the leading reasons.
—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for debacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debacle
Noun
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Rodríguez said numerous public officials died in the disaster, including security personnel, municipal employees and military officers.
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The Boyle Heights blaze, similar to the Eaton and Palisades fires, has revealed the region’s air monitoring can’t always tell people what they’ve been exposed to in a disaster.
Noun
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According to Castillo, one of the most significant failures has been the tendency to treat many squatter complaints as civil disputes rather than criminal investigations.
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Spence also appears to be absorbing the blame for broader failures, with Thomas Tuchel’s touchline frustrations obvious and — for a player still establishing himself at this level — that scrutiny is unlikely to help.
Noun
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In the work of fiction, the ship is taken over to prevent catastrophe.
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The young girls are referred to as Heaven’s 27 by their surviving families, who are determined to honor their legacy by ensuring such a catastrophe never happens again.
Noun
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Harry's decision comes amid an ongoing security fiasco concerning the safety of Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
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Add in a fiasco of a camp, where celebrities had access to the team’s hotel, and subpar performances in defeats against Uruguay, Russia and Saudi Arabia, and the hoodoo appeared stronger than ever.
Noun
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During the June 23 meeting, residents urged city officials to keep funding the team to prevent future tragedies.
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Here are the most significant developments since the tragedy occurred.
Noun
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The same year, another, longer-running TV version focused on the story of survivors after an alien apocalypse that had wiped out most of the Earth's population.
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Closing the Manhattan Bridge, diverting traffic, and managing the safety of staging a zombie apocalypse downtown required the cooperation and manpower of multiple agencies with their own sets of pressing priorities and responsibilities.
Cite this Entry
“Debacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debacle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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