debacle

[ dee-bah-kuhl, dey-, duh-, -bak-uhl ]

noun

1. a general breakup or dispersion; sudden downfall or rout:

   The revolution ended in a debacle.

2. a complete collapse or failure.

   Synonyms: calamity, catastrophe, fiasco, ruin, disaster

3. a breaking up of ice in a river. Compare embacle def.
4. a violent rush of waters or ice.

debacle

/ deɪˈbɑːkəl; dɪ- /

noun

1. a sudden disastrous collapse or defeat, esp one involving a disorderly retreat; rout
2. the breaking up of ice in a river during spring or summer, often causing flooding
3. a violent rush of water carrying along debris

Word History and Origins

Origin of debacle¹

1795–1805; < French débâcle, derivative of débâcler to unbar, clear, equivalent to dé- dis- ¹ + bâcler to bar ≪ Latin baculum stick, rod

Word History and Origins

Origin of debacle¹

C19: from French débâcle, from Old French desbacler to unbolt, ultimately from Latin baculum rod, staff

Example Sentences

Following last Monday’s debacle against the Miami Dolphins, McVay put rookie center Beaux Limmer back in the lineup in place of Jonah Jackson.

From Los Angeles Times

Jack also followed the debacle with new merch with the phrase "Icky Trump."

From Salon

Times staffers look back on election week 2020, from the rise of the ‘chartthrobs’ to the Four Seasons Total Landscaping debacle, to understand what to expect this time around.

From Los Angeles Times

Times staffers look back on election week 2020, from the rise of the ‘chartthrobs’ to the Four Seasons Total Landscaping debacle, to understand what to expect this time around.

From Los Angeles Times

Times staffers look back on election week 2020, from the rise of the ‘chartthrobs’ to the Four Seasons Total Landscaping debacle, to understand what to expect this time around.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• beating
• breakdown
• collapse
• crash
• defeat
• devastation
• disaster
• downfall
• drubbing
• failure
• fiasco
• reversal
• rout
• wreck