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Glite Dictionary
💥 A disaster 🌊 Ice flood
debacle

debacle

9.3
A sudden flood when ice in a river breaks and makes water rise
  • noun
  • /dɪˈbɑːkl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : inundación
  • Residents prepared for the annual debacle by moving valuables away from the flood-prone areas.

Examples

  • The spring debacle caused flooding along the riverbanks after the ice suddenly broke up.

  • The spring debacle caused significant damage to the town.

  • During the 19th century, a debacle could devastate entire riverside communities.

  • After the debacle, the riverbanks were left in disarray.

  • The village experienced a devastating debacle when the river overflowed after the ice melted too quickly in spring.

  • Due to the early thaw, the debacle resulted in widespread flooding, affecting many homes along the riverbank.

  • In March, the sudden debacle caused by a rapid ice breakup led to extensive damage throughout the town.

Synonyms

deluge
vsdebacle
11 6.3

A very heavy rain that causes flooding

is instead caused by violent river ice breakup not heavy rainfall
inundation
vsdebacle
1 7.7

Flooding of land when water covers areas that are normally dry

is a sudden river ice breakup event causing flood not general overflow
waterflood
vsdebacle
6.3

A sudden large flow of water that floods land

is caused specifically by violent ice breakup in rivers during thaw

Antonyms

stability
363 3.1

Being steady and not likely to change

calm
52 1.0

A quiet, peaceful feeling that helps you stay steady

How Severe

deluge
11 6.3
debacle
  • Archaic
9.3
flood
286 1.0
overflow
21 3.2

Surface Forms

debacle singular
debacles plural

Etymology

Debacle first named the violent flood that came when river ice suddenly broke; it comes from the French débâcle, with dé- meaning 'un-' or 'away' and the idea of an ice barrier giving way. So a debacle was originally a sudden river flood caused by breaking ice, which explains its strong sense of sudden destruction.