What does debacle mean Meaning and Definition
What does debacle mean
Pronunciation
/dɪˈbekəl/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A complete failure or a situation that ends in complete failure or disaster; a great collapse or downfall.
Examples
- The project’s debacle was a huge financial loss for the company.
- The team’s debacle in the final match was a crushing defeat.
Synonyms
- Catastrophe
- Failure
- Disaster
Antonyms
- SUCCESS
- Accomplishment
- Triumph
Etymology
The word debacle comes from the French word “débâcle”, which means “complete failure” or “downfall”. The French word is derived from the Latin word “debellare”, which means “to conquer” or “to overcome”.
Usage Notes
Use “debacle” to describe a situation that has ended in complete failure or disaster. It can be used to describe a team’s performance in a game, a business’s financial situation, or a person’s personal life.
Cultural References
The word “debacle” has been used in various cultural references, such as in literature, music, and film. For example, the novel “A Farewell to Arms” by Ernest Hemingway describes the Italian army’s debacle during World War I.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- To go down in debacle
- A debacle from the start
Related Words or Phrases
- Failure
- Disaster
- Catastrophe
- Downfall
Collocations
- A crushing debacle
- A major debacle
- A moral debacle
Frequency of Use
The word “debacle” is relatively rare in everyday language, but it is often used in formal contexts, such as in news articles, academic papers, and literary works.
Common Misspellings
- Debaclee
- Debbacle
- Debace