Debacle — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /dē-ˈbä-kəl/ de·ba·cle

Meaning & Definition of Debacle

Debacle (noun)

  1. a great disaster
  2. a complete failure, fiasco
  3. a tumultuous breakup of ice in a river

Debacle (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a sudden violent event that brings about great loss or destruction

    "the financial debacle that was the stock market crash of 1929"

    similar: apocalypse, calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, disaster, tragedy
    related: bloodbath, collapse, crash, meltdown, Armageddon, doomsday, end-time, convulsion, paroxysm, upheaval, accident, casualty, fatality, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, blast, blow, double whammy, one-two
    near: godsend, manna, windfall

  2. 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"

    similar: bomb, bummer, bust, catastrophe, clinker, clunker, disaster, dud, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, frost, lemon, loser, miss, shipwreck, turkey, washout
    related: also-ran, disappointment, dog, has-been, near miss, botch, hash, mess, muddle, shambles, nonevent, nonstarter
    opposite: blockbuster, hit, smash, success, winner
    near: corker, crackerjack, dandy, jim-dandy, phenomenon

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Debacle

The most common words with a similar meaning to Debacle:

apocalypse, calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, disaster, tragedy, bomb, bummer, bust, clinker, clunker, dud, failure, fiasco, fizzle, flop, frost, lemon, loser, miss, shipwreck, turkey, washout

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Debacle

Words with the opposite meaning of Debacle:

blockbuster, hit, smash, success, winner

Related Words for Debacle

bloodbath, collapse, crash, meltdown, Armageddon, doomsday, end-time, convulsion, paroxysm, upheaval, accident, casualty, fatality, misadventure, mischance, misfortune, mishap, blast, blow, double whammy, one-two, also-ran, disappointment, dog, has-been, near miss, botch, hash, mess, muddle

Near Antonyms of Debacle

godsend, manna, windfall, corker, crackerjack, dandy, jim-dandy, phenomenon

Origin & Etymology of Debacle

French débâcle, from débâcler to clear, from Middle French desbacler, from des- de- + bacler to block, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *bacculare, from Latin baculum staff

First known use: 1802

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Debacle

Frequently Asked Questions about Debacle

What does "Debacle" mean?

"Debacle" means a great disaster. As a noun, it is defined as: a great disaster. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Debacle"?

Other words for "Debacle" include apocalypse, calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, disaster, tragedy, bomb and bummer. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Debacle" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Debacle"?

There are 56 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Debacle". Common alternatives include apocalypse, calamity, cataclysm, catastrophe, disaster, tragedy, bomb, bummer, bust and clinker.

What is the opposite of "Debacle"?

Antonyms of "Debacle" include blockbuster, hit, smash, success and winner. Near antonyms include godsend, manna, windfall and corker.

How do you use "Debacle" in a sentence?

Examples of "Debacle" in a sentence: "the financial debacle that was the stock market crash of 1929"; "the movie, which some had predicted would be a blockbuster, turned out to be the summer's biggest debacle at the multiplexes".

Is "Debacle" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Debacle" is a noun.

Is "Debacle" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Debacle" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Debacle"?

"Debacle" is pronounced /dē-ˈbä-kəl/ and divided into syllables as de·ba·cle.