debacle
Spectacular public failure
A debacle is a sudden, complete disaster or failure—often one that's embarrassing or humiliating.
The word suggests not just defeat but collapse, a situation falling apart spectacularly: The product launch was a debacle from start to finish.
Unlike mere setbacks, a debacle implies something that went catastrophically wrong in a way that's hard to recover from.
Humiliating public failure
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- calamitySevere misfortune or disaster
- shamblesState of total disorder
train wreck · meltdown · shipwreck · botch · bungle · blunder · flop · washout
State of utter confusion
- bedlamState of wild disorder
- mayhemViolent disorder and destruction
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- shamblesState of total disorder
disarray · havoc · madness · circus · farce · comedy of errors · free-for-all · mess
Sudden loss of power
- implosionViolent collapse inward
- crashSudden violent impact
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
- ruinComplete destruction or collapse
disintegration · unraveling · crumbling · dissolution · fall · wreckage · demolition · nosedive
Self-conscious unease
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- disgraceLoss of honor
- ignominyState of dishonor
- infamyExtreme public disgrace
controversy · outcry · backlash · fallout · uproar · expose · cover-up · resignation
Overwhelming one-sided victory
- drubbingDecisive, lopsided defeat
- thrashingDecisive, lopsided defeat
- trouncingOverwhelming defeat
- shellackingCrushing, lopsided defeat
whitewash · landslide · crushing blow · humiliation · annihilation · massacre · bloodbath · beating
fiasco
Humiliating public failure
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- calamitySevere misfortune or disaster
shambles · train wreck · meltdown · shipwreck · botch · bungle · blunder · flop · washout · bust
pandemonium
State of utter confusion
- bedlamState of wild disorder
- mayhemViolent disorder and destruction
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
shambles · disarray · havoc · madness · circus · farce · comedy of errors · free-for-all · mess · muddle
downfall
Sudden loss of power
ruin · disintegration · unraveling · crumbling · dissolution · fall · wreckage · demolition · nosedive · plunge
embarrassment
Self-conscious unease
- humiliationLoss of dignity
- disgraceLoss of honor
- ignominyState of dishonor
infamy · controversy · outcry · backlash · fallout · uproar · expose · cover-up · resignation · accountability
rout
Overwhelming one-sided victory
shellacking · whitewash · landslide · crushing blow · humiliation · annihilation · massacre · bloodbath · beating · loss
- Incompetencebungle, failure, botch, inability, blunder
- failingfail, fails, collapse, flop, bomb
- failuresfailure, failures, flop, flops, bust
- hardshipshardship, adversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties
- letdownsletdown, disappointment, anticlimax, dud, flop
- misfortunesdisaster, catastrophe, tragedy, calamity, misery
debacletriumph
Resounding, celebrated victory
success · victory · achievement · accomplishment · smash