noun

debacle

fiasco, disaster, complete failure

The project ended in a complete debacle.

The project ended in a complete debacle.

((a/the)) debacle a complete failure The election was a debacle for the party.

Synonyms: fiasco, catastrophe, disaster, mess; Antonyms: success, triumph, achievement

From French 'débâcle', meaning 'breaking up of ice', from 'débâcler' (to unbar). It describes a sudden and ignominious failure.

Imagine a dam 'buckling' ('bacle') and breaking apart ('de-'), causing a complete disaster.

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