1
as in to bankrupt
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
after he was ruined by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the industrialist was forced to sell his mansion and start all over again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to destroy
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
tornadoes ruined a wide swath of the county
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to devastate
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
a huge fire that ruined an entire city block
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
a vicious bombardment that left the building in ruins
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wreck
ruins plural
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
the ruins of an abandoned abbey
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in bankruptcy
the inability to pay one's debts
the family faces ruin if the chief breadwinner doesn't find another job very soon
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4
as in downfall
something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life
the politician's eventual ruin would be a sexual indiscretion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruin
Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
Likewise, all dates happened in public, as meeting in private had the potential to ruin a woman's reputation.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
The ruins of one of what was once the northernmost bishopric sat nearby.
—Tim Neville, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruin
Verb
The problem is, structurally, for four years, the country was ruined.
—Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2026
Likewise, all dates happened in public, as meeting in private had the potential to ruin a woman's reputation.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
Like them, its rags-to-riches-to-near-ruin storytelling is simplistic, the celluloid craftsmanship B-grade, the acting nothing to write home about.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
The ruins of one of what was once the northernmost bishopric sat nearby.
—Tim Neville, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruin
Verb
-
The government dissolved Aum as a tax-exempt religious organization, effectively bankrupting it, and began to scrutinize other new religions, including the Unification Church.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Muslim Fulani militants frequently carry out violence in northern and central parts of Nigeria to bankrupt Christian communities while receiving ransom payments.—
Greg Norman-Diamond,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But when a man from Anne’s past returns from war, a curse begins to take shape through a mysterious knight and threatens to destroy them all.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Plenty of plants were destroyed in the Eaton and Palisades fires, of course, especially highly flammable shrubs like tall, skinny arborvitae.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Grand Canyon National Park is preparing to reopen portions of the North Rim after the Dragon Bravo Fire devastated the region last summer.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Through its Quds Force, the Guard backed regional groups including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, but recent Israeli strikes have devastated its network.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In June 2025, EOS demonstrated the destruction of a tank using a Rodeur 330 fitted with an inert warhead, controlled via FPV.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
-
While navigating Westport by car or on foot is chaotic right now, the goal is to prevent destruction in the future.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Pilot Jacob Hosmer, attorney Tara Arnold and event planner Shawna Collins were killed in the wreck, according to Houston ABC affiliate KTRK.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The wreck comes as Winter Storm Fern covers the region sleet and ice, creating dangerous travel conditions across major roadways.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The decision issued by OHS noted that UConn Health was the only bidder for Waterbury Hospital in the bankruptcy court-run auction, and that the hospital would likely close if the agency denied the transaction.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, the bankruptcy court modified the automatic bankruptcy stay to allow the Alabama court to determine if Campbell had violated its charging orders and whether sanctions were warranted.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Presidential downfall Legislators swiftly overturned the president’s martial law decree after fighting their way past armed soldiers into parliament.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In early January, an anonymous Polymarket trader made $400,000 betting on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s downfall, raising concerns about insider trading.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Her consistent binge sessions are ravaging her spirit.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The Texans were ravaged by injuries on the interior defensive line this season, and many of those players will be free agents.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruin. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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