debacle

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“
One of the main culprits in this debacle is the deregulation of the financial industry-which happened in large part through the efforts of McCain economic adviser Phil Gramm, who as senator, pushed through legislation allowing institutions to combine commercial banking and investment services.

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Definitions (10)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (4)

  1. noun A sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout.
  2. noun A total, often ludicrous failure.
  3. noun The breaking up of ice in a river.
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Examples

  • One of the main culprits in this debacle is the deregulation of the financial industry-which happened in large part through the efforts of McCain economic adviser Phil Gramm, who as senator, pushed through legislation allowing institutions to combine commercial banking and investment services. —  AFL-CIO NOW BLOG
  • "Call me cynical, but I can't help but think this debacle was all part of a poorly-orchestrated ploy to drum up support for an increase in the gas tax," said Tisei. —  Hub Politics
  • Afghanistan's runoff election must be delayed -- or another debacle is a virtual certainty. —  Foreign Policy
  • Rebounding from the Florida debacle might be a bit easier for the Georgia defense, which won't be intimidated by a no-name group of starters on the Wildcats 'offense. —  Macon Telegraph: Homepage
  • To me, this debacle was all about Reid. —  Philly.com - Latest Videos
 

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Debacle has been looked up 569 times, favorited 4 times, listed 68 times, and commented on 3 times.

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

meltdown ·  fiasco ·  setback ·  implosion ·  upheaval ·  collapse
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. French débâcle, from débâcler, to unbar, from Old French desbacler : des-, de- + bacler, to bar (from Vulgar Latin *bacculāre, from Latin baculum, rod; see bak- in Indo-European roots).

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from French débácle, a break-up, overthrow, from débácler, break up, as ice does, unbar, from dé- privative (from Latin dis-, apart) + bácler, bar, shut, from Provencal baclar, bar, from Latin baculus, a stick, staff: see baculus.
 

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/dəˈbækl/
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