debacle

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

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.

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

Live Nation is currently facing a sweeping federal antitrust lawsuit in the U.S., alleging monopolistic practices, following heated Senate hearings the wake of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour on-sale debacle.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The hedge fund investor at the heart of a scandal that damaged B. Riley Financial has been charged with criminal fraud as the West L.A. company continues efforts to dig out from under the debacle.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Another factor has fueled both the Fuentes debacle and the shutdown insanity: social media.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Many were the very same characters who had created the late 1990s debacle.

Read more on Literature

Anyway Mr. Roberts—supporting the Hanlon theory—has apologized to Heritage staff for the debacle.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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