debacle
Americannoun
-
a general breakup or dispersion; sudden downfall or rout.
The revolution ended in a debacle.
-
a complete collapse or failure.
- Synonyms:
- calamity, catastrophe, fiasco, ruin, disaster
-
a breaking up of ice in a river.
-
a violent rush of waters or ice.
noun
-
a sudden disastrous collapse or defeat, esp one involving a disorderly retreat; rout
-
the breaking up of ice in a river during spring or summer, often causing flooding
-
a violent rush of water carrying along debris
Etymology
Origin of debacle
1795–1805; < French débâcle, derivative of débâcler to unbar, clear, equivalent to dé- dis- 1 + bâcler to bar ≪ Latin baculum stick, rod
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Human rights advocates had hoped the Kunduz debacle would force the U.S. military into taking concrete steps to protect civilians during U.S. combat operations.
From Salon
Stuart Murphy, the chief executive of the Scottish Football Fans Association, described the situation as a "debacle" and says it is not fair on the majority of match-going fans.
From BBC
After the debacle in Rome, Scotland have come good.
From BBC
Last Sunday’s debacle in an uninspiring and ugly loss to a higher-seeded, more aggressive, more talented and more balanced Celtics team seemed to expose all the flaws that plague this struggling and inconsistent Lakers team.
From Los Angeles Times
Italian football stands on the brink of a Champions League "debacle" - with the prospect of no Serie A clubs competing in this season's last 16.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
