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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2025
Since the premiere of the movie in August 2024, Lively has also accused Baldoni of participating in a deliberate smear campaign to ruin her reputation.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
An upholstered bench from her studio features a handmade ceramic button imprinted with textures from nearby ruins—a homage to the city on her doorstep.
—Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruin
Verb
Has social media ruined audience engagement?
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2025
Since the premiere of the movie in August 2024, Lively has also accused Baldoni of participating in a deliberate smear campaign to ruin her reputation.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
In the trailer, Timoner, Doctor and their neighbors survey the ruins of their homes and confront the question of what happens next.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
An upholstered bench from her studio features a handmade ceramic button imprinted with textures from nearby ruins—a homage to the city on her doorstep.
—Keith Flanagan, Architectural Digest, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruin
Verb
-
See video … WATCH TOM HOMAN – With a secure border, the US is bankrupting cartels.—
,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Multiple rocket explosions nearly bankrupted the company.—
Joel Shulman,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Some are value-destroying black holes; others are relentless value creators.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The first instance of NATO nations downing drones came last week, when Polish and Dutch fighters destroyed three Russian drones over Poland.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On September 7, dog owner Brittany U'Wren was devastated to learn that her rescue Shitzu mix, named Lexi, had escaped through the garage and disappeared from her home in Lexington, Kentucky.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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Ajok said that a friend, a fellow Ugandan athlete, told her that after taking medication and undergoing surgery in order to compete, they were left feeling devastated.—
Amy Woodyatt,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The developing cauldron would trap Russian troops with few options beyond surrender or destruction.—
David Kirichenko,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Earth, meanwhile, has so far been unable to bring about its own destruction.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The only movement is that of goats who nibble the long grass that grows around the Cold War aircraft wrecks that litter this forlorn spot on Grenada’s east coast.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The wreck lies nearly 400 feet deep in low-visibility water and yielded some fascinating treasures.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Claire's filed for bankruptcy that month, its second bankruptcy filling in seven years.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
-
When Spirit emerged from bankruptcy in March, its leaders were hoping to find more stable financial footing.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Not Hiring Or Managing Staff Effectively One of the reasons why having operating capital up front is so critical is that not hiring enough staff members or managing them ineffectively can be the biggest nail in a franchise's downfall.—
Seth Lederman,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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As long as the regime does not take that step, the lights will not go on — and the island’s gradual downfall will only accelerate.—
Andres Oppenheimer
September 17,
Miami Herald,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The species, ravaged by the invasive Emerald Ash borer over the past two decades, continues to decay and cause problems for homeowners and power lines.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
17 Sep. 2025
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The Minnesota Vikings running back room has been ravaged by injury the past two weeks, prompting a reunion that many fans had seen coming.—
Trevor Squire,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruin. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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