Words / C1

day-BAHKL/deɪˈbɑːkl/

A debacle is a sudden, public, embarrassing failure: a launch debacle, the count was a debacle. Disaster is everyday and can be tragic; a fiasco is a close cousin for bungled events. Debacle is not a mild delay. Do not use it for a private disappointment with no public mess.

Meaning

A sudden, complete failure that is public and embarrassing.

Examples

• “The software launch was a debacle: the site crashed for a day.”
• “The website debacle left thousands unable to sit the test on the advertised day.”
• “Calling a tight vote a debacle is rhetoric; a collapsed count is a debacle.”

Good to know

A public, embarrassing collapse. Everyday tragic: disaster. Close: fiasco. Not a private let-down or a short delay.

Near in meaning

fiasco

New