Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout.
- noun A total, often ludicrous failure.
- noun The breaking up of ice in a river.
- noun A violent flood.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun Specifically, the breaking up of ice in a river in consequence of a rise of the water.
- noun A confused rout; an uncontrollable rush; a stampede.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Geol.) A breaking or bursting forth; a violent rush or flood of waters which breaks down opposing barriers, and hurls forward and disperses blocks of stone and other débris.
- noun A sudden breaking up or breaking loose; a violent dispersion or disruption; impetuous rush; outburst.
- noun a complete and ludicrous failure; a rout, as of an army; a great disaster; a
fiasco .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun An
event orenterprise that endssuddenly anddisastrously , often withhumiliating consequences . - noun ecology A breaking up of a natural
dam , usually made ofice , by ariver and the ensuingrush of water.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun flooding caused by a tumultuous breakup of ice in a river during the spring or summer
- noun a sudden and violent collapse
- noun a sound defeat
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
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Examples
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Some experts predict that the only way out of the debacle is a huge settlement in which home-loan servicers modify the terms of billions of dollars of mortgages.
Understanding the Foreclosure Debacle Ruth Simon 2010
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If this debacle is allowed to happen it will make the Jimmy Carter years look like paradise.
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To say that this debacle was a debacle is a vast understatement.
A taste test for Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth karenmiller 2009
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Adding another layer to the debacle is the fact that Genentech has only tested Avastin for breast cancer or lung cancer treatment at a dose double that prescribed for colon cancer.
Archive 2006-02-01 Nick Anthis 2006
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I'm using "that" as a replacement for "the dose," so the sentence could also read, "Adding another layer to the debacle is the fact that Genentech has only tested Avastin for breast cancer or lung cancer treatment at a dose double the dose prescribed for colon cancer."
Double Drug Jeopardy Nick Anthis 2006
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Adding another layer to the debacle is the fact that Genentech has only tested Avastin for breast cancer or lung cancer treatment at a dose double that prescribed for colon cancer.
Double Drug Jeopardy Nick Anthis 2006
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"Adding another layer to the debacle is the fact that Genentech has only tested Avastin for breast cancer or lung cancer treatment at a dose double that prescribed for colon cancer."
Double Drug Jeopardy Nick Anthis 2006
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Mr. Obama blamed the economy's weakness on the downturn in Europe, slow job growth and what he called the "debacle" of this past summer's debt ceiling negotiations.
NYT > Home Page By HELENE COOPER 2011
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Mr. Obama blamed the economy's weakness on the downturn in Europe, slow job growth and what he called the "debacle" of this past summer's debt ceiling negotiations.
NYT > Home Page By HELENE COOPER 2011
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The phrase "The Facebook Username debacle" is first used, and becomes the preferred sobriquet for the feature forevermore. 70% of commenters mention that "Facebook Username" can be abbreviated "FU", and each thinks he is the first to think of it.
Exclusive: The Future of Facebook Usernames - Anil Dash 2009
seanahan commented on the word debacle
I like the way this word sounds. It is fun to say, and always makes me smile when I'm forced to use it to describe my life.
February 22, 2007
sonofgroucho commented on the word debacle
How poignant...
October 13, 2007
rolig commented on the word debacle
I like this word better when it's wearing its stylish French accessories: débâcle.
June 18, 2009
karthik.sukumar.399 commented on the word debacle
I confused this word with manacle. What a debacle i have done!
September 24, 2012
bilby commented on the word debacle
'Also attested in Old French desbacler ("to clear a harbour by getting ships unloaded to make room for incoming ships with lading")' is fascinating.
January 17, 2024