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Meaning of debacle in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  1. Pronunciation

    /deɪˈbɑk(ə)l/

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  1. Noun

    debacle

    Etymology

    early 19th century (in sense ‘the breaking up of ice in a river’): from French débâcle, from débâcler‘unleash’, from dé-‘un-’ + bâcler‘to bar’ (from Latin baculum‘staff’)

    Definitions

    1. a sudden and violent collapse
  2. 2. flooding caused by a tumultuous breakup of ice in a river during the spring or summer
  3. 3. a sound defeat

    Derived terms

    • bat
    • beat
    • beat out
    • clobber
    • crush
    • drub
    • lick
    • mop up
    • pip
    • rack up
    • shell
    • thrash
    • trounce
    • vanquish
    • wallop
    • whip
    • worst

Famous quotes

  • « A major power can afford a military debacle only when it looks like a political victory. »
    Friedrich Durrenmatt
  • « Mankind's true moral test, its fundamental test (which lies deeply buried from view), consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy: animals. And in this respect mankind has suffered a fundamental debacle, a debacle so fundamental that all others stem from it. »
    Milan Kundera

Browse dictionary

  • deb
  • death wish
  • death warrant
  • Death Valley
  • debacle
  • debar
  • debark
  • debarkation
  • debarment
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