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debacle
(redirected from debacles)

   Also found in: Encyclopedia 0.04 sec.
de·ba·cle  (d-bäkl, -bkl, db-kl)
n.
1. A sudden, disastrous collapse, downfall, or defeat; a rout.
2. A total, often ludicrous failure.
3. The breaking up of ice in a river.
4. A violent flood.

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

debacle [day-bah-kl]
Noun
something that ends in a disastrous failure, esp. because it has not been properly planned [French]

Debacle a confused rush or route; a violent rush of water.
Example: a debacle of water, 1823.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.debacle - a sudden and violent collapse
collapse - a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in; "the roof is in danger of collapse"; "the collapse of the old star under its own gravity"
2.debacle - flooding caused by a tumultuous breakup of ice in a river during the spring or summer
flood, inundation, alluvion, deluge - the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land; "plains fertilized by annual inundations"
3.debacledebacle - a sound defeat                      
defeat, licking - an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest; "it was a narrow defeat"; "the army's only defeat"; "they suffered a convincing licking"

debacle or débâcle
Translations
debacle [deɪˈbɑːkl] ndesastre m; catástrofe f
debacle [deɪˈbɑːkl] nDebakel nt
debacle [deɪˈbɑːkl] n (= defeat) → disfatta (= collapse); sfacelo


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In this age of Enron debacles and WorldCom chicanery, The Art Of Original Thinking is very highly recommended reading for all business executives, managers, consultants, and business theory students for its comprehensive presentation how to effect beneficial and principled changes to the art of doing business.
Finkelstein investigates the roots of corporate debacles and reaches a surprising conclusion: Even comparing companies that have nothing in common, the causes of such failures are identical.
Just as quick fixes were at the root of problems suffered by corporations described in the book, shortcuts in trying to understand these debacles just won't cut it.
 
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