Basic Details
Word: Debacle
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A sudden and complete failure; a fiasco or disaster.
Synonyms: Fiasco, catastrophe, collapse, disaster, breakdown
Antonyms: Success, triumph, victory, achievement
Idioms and Phrases
- End in a debacle: Used when something finishes in complete failure. Example: "The product launch ended in a debacle due to technical issues."
- A financial debacle: Refers to a major failure or crash in financial matters. Example: "The company suffered a financial debacle after investing in a risky venture."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The play turned into a debacle when the lead actor forgot his lines.
Example 2: Their attempt to build a treehouse without instructions ended in a debacle.
Example 3: The politician's speech was a debacle, leaving the audience confused and unimpressed.
Fun Fact
Did you know that "debacle" comes from the French word *dbcler*, meaning to unbar or unleash? It originally described the breaking up of ice on a river and later evolved to mean a sudden breakdown or failure.
Famous Quote
"Every great success is the result of many small debacles that didn't stop you." Unknown
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "debacle" mean?
a) A beautiful event
b) A sudden and complete failure
c) A type of celebration
d) A surprise success
Answer: b) A sudden and complete failure
2. Which of these is a synonym of "debacle"?
a) Victory
b) Achievement
c) Collapse
d) Success
Answer: c) Collapse
3. Which is an antonym of "debacle"?
a) Catastrophe
b) Success
c) Fiasco
d) Breakdown
Answer: b) Success
4. Which sentence uses "debacle" correctly?
a) The picnic was a debacle when it started raining heavily.
b) He debacled to the office quickly.
c) The debacle was dancing on the floor.
d) They had a debacle dinner last night.
Answer: a) The picnic was a debacle when it started raining heavily.
5. What does the idiom "end in a debacle" mean?
a) Something that finishes quickly
b) Something that ends in victory
c) Something that ends in complete failure
d) Something that ends with applause
Answer: c) Something that ends in complete failure
