1
as in bankrupted
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in destroyed
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 demolished
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruined
Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The Hollywood Blacklist ruined lives, with many losing their livelihoods or even committing suicide in response to the fallout from HUAC.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
The agency might exist in name, but its reputation may be ruined for good.
—Keren Landman, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Has social media ruined audience engagement?
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2025
When faced with Cherry going berserk, what can Laura do but visit Cherry’s mother and learn that Cherry nearly killed her dad and ruined an ex-boyfriend’s wedding by filling his cake with raw pig parts?
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Our family has been ruined by Denise's lies of promising to end a year-long affair.
—Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
The season is already ruined for both Ortiz, Clase, and quite possibly the Guardians, and their fans.
—Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Topa startled by knee pain Trying to close out the game, right-hander Justin Topa made a pitch in the ninth inning and felt a pain in his knee similar to the patellar tendon injury that ruined most of his 2024 season.
—David Brown, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
The night was ruined by her boyfriend's bad mood.
—Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The Hollywood Blacklist ruined lives, with many losing their livelihoods or even committing suicide in response to the fallout from HUAC.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Sep. 2025
The agency might exist in name, but its reputation may be ruined for good.
—Keren Landman, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Has social media ruined audience engagement?
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2025
When faced with Cherry going berserk, what can Laura do but visit Cherry’s mother and learn that Cherry nearly killed her dad and ruined an ex-boyfriend’s wedding by filling his cake with raw pig parts?
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Our family has been ruined by Denise's lies of promising to end a year-long affair.
—Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
The season is already ruined for both Ortiz, Clase, and quite possibly the Guardians, and their fans.
—Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Topa startled by knee pain Trying to close out the game, right-hander Justin Topa made a pitch in the ninth inning and felt a pain in his knee similar to the patellar tendon injury that ruined most of his 2024 season.
—David Brown, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruined
Adjective
-
Owner Jason Boso fixed that, infusing $2 million into the 10-year-old bar on better bathrooms, a covered section of the patio and a re-done kitchen.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas News,
3 Apr. 2023
Verb
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Multiple rocket explosions nearly bankrupted the company.—
Joel Shulman,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Jerry Garcia's 1977 pet project, which nearly bankrupted the band, screens in IMAX this weekend.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The tall, steep mountains that rise to 6,000 feet in elevation in the Grandfather District saw triple digit winds and some of the heaviest rainfall of the storm with hundreds of miles of trail and road destroyed.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Alshon cruised past Johnson 3,7 in a surprise, while Garnett destroyed Haworth 4,1 to set up a very solid final.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Then, with three seconds left in the game, Davis delivered the signature play that demolished the narrative that’s shadowed his career.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
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His jersey hung in his locker untouched at the old Busch Stadium until it was demolished in 2005.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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These include a Nunavut man’s firsthand account of discovering the wreck of the HMS Terror, one of British Captain John Franklin’s two doomed mid-19th-century expedition ships, which became trapped in ice before sinking off the southwest coast of King William Island.—
Robin Catalano,
AFAR Media,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Her mother, Colette Watson, was a flight attendant on the doomed Eastern plane, but walked away from the crash nearly unharmed.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At peace with his decision, Kershaw is enjoying the benefits of health in his age-37 season after a series of injuries and surgeries that ravaged his body in recent years.—
Wayne G. McDonnell,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
-
The world is being ravaged by these cosplayers.—
James Folta
September 19,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Getty Images The nascent campaign has already shattered the record for philanthropic money raised in support of hosting an Olympic and Paralympic Games.—
Blythe Lawrence,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
When your industry is being shattered by greed?—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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With consistent insight, leaders can shift from reactive spending to strategic investing—turning technology from a sunk cost into a competitive advantage.—
Kathleen Hurley,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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With Aguirre’s plan, the efforts will become a sunk cost.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruined. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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