train wreck
noun
variants
or less commonly trainwreck
plural train wrecks also trainwrecks
1
: a violent and destructive crash involving a train
2
: an utter disaster or mess : a disastrous calamity or source of trouble
Six months later, with Washington facing a political train wreck in Iraq, whom did it call? The United Nations.—
Fareed Zakaria
Fareed ZakariaThe train wreck that was Florence Ballard could not be hidden anymore. … Those shows went on without a hitch, but with Ballard progressively drinking harder, disaster awaited them as they trekked from Miami to play several college dates across the South.—Mark Ballard
Mark Ballard… to create what is termed on Capitol Hill a train wreck—a budget crisis so awful that the President would have to seriously negotiate, and yield on taxes.—Elizabeth Drew
Elizabeth DrewExamples of train wreck in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For Tom, both Biden and Trump are driving towards a fiscal train wreck, from different directions.
—Beth Greenfield, Fortune, 1 July 2024
On Saturday, the Rockies’ once-promising afternoon quickly derailed into a train wreck.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 29 June 2024
The only difference between this and a hurricane, earthquake, train wreck, or similar emergency is one of scale: natural disasters eventually pass, gun violence lingers on.
—Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2024
There are train wrecks that offer more inspiration and uplift.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for train wreck 
Beth Greenfield, Fortune, 1 July 2024
On Saturday, the Rockies’ once-promising afternoon quickly derailed into a train wreck.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 29 June 2024
The only difference between this and a hurricane, earthquake, train wreck, or similar emergency is one of scale: natural disasters eventually pass, gun violence lingers on.
—Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 29 June 2024
There are train wrecks that offer more inspiration and uplift.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for train wreck
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'train wreck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near train wreck
Cite this Entry
“Train wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/train%20wreck. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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