What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
debacle
Example
The company's financial debacle resulted in massive layoffs. [debacle: noun]
Example
The team's performance was a complete debacle, losing by a score of 10-0. [debacle: adjective]
collapse
Example
The building collapsed due to poor construction. [collapse: verb]
Example
The athlete collapsed at the finish line due to exhaustion. [collapse: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Collapse is more commonly used than debacle in everyday language. Collapse is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while debacle is less common and typically used in more extreme situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between debacle and collapse?
Both debacle and collapse are formal words, but debacle may be considered slightly more formal due to its less frequent usage.
