1
as in bankrupting
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in destroying
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 wrecking
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 ruining
When sound came in, people were writing all these articles about how sound is ruining films.
—
Andy Hazel, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
Dyckman’s sharing the top three outdoor decor trends that are ruining your space—plus, her favorite Amazon swaps to fix them, starting at $22.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
The shoes have a water-repellent protective coating, so there's no need to worry about the weather ruining the white exterior (just wipe them down with a wet cloth after).
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
Unchecked homelessness is ruining our cities and communities.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Most homeowners are surprised to learn the buzzing nuisance ruining their evenings probably started life just steps from the back door.
—Ryan Brennan
april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Matt Olson hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Kenley Jansen, ruining a dominant performance by Tarik Skubal and rallying the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
Husband’s long list of demands is already ruining a trip the letter writer has spent his whole life dreaming about.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2026
These tenacious insects discreetly land on your skin, leaving sudden, itchy, and painful bites that can swell and turn red, ruining a perfectly pleasant outdoor evening.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 18 Apr. 2026
Andy Hazel, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
Dyckman’s sharing the top three outdoor decor trends that are ruining your space—plus, her favorite Amazon swaps to fix them, starting at $22.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2026
The shoes have a water-repellent protective coating, so there's no need to worry about the weather ruining the white exterior (just wipe them down with a wet cloth after).
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
Unchecked homelessness is ruining our cities and communities.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Most homeowners are surprised to learn the buzzing nuisance ruining their evenings probably started life just steps from the back door.
—Ryan Brennan
april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Matt Olson hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Kenley Jansen, ruining a dominant performance by Tarik Skubal and rallying the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
Husband’s long list of demands is already ruining a trip the letter writer has spent his whole life dreaming about.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2026
These tenacious insects discreetly land on your skin, leaving sudden, itchy, and painful bites that can swell and turn red, ruining a perfectly pleasant outdoor evening.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 18 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruining
Verb
-
Among its many distinctions, SPLC is known for bankrupting the Ku Klux Klan.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Aryan Nations case in 2000 delivered a similar outcome for the Keenans, effectively bankrupting Aryan Nations and Butler, one of the nation’s most influential hate proliferators.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Giant sheets of plastic hang from the ceiling to separate different areas for destroying things and painting.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
-
Pests and wood-destroying organisms Charlotte’s warm, humid climate makes termites a year-round threat, not just seasonal.—
Ryan Brennan
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The line was a wrecking crew that also managed to outscore the opposition.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
Victor Wembanyama delivered another masterpiece with 39 points, 15 rebounds and more game-wrecking defense for the San Antonio Spurs, who took a 2-1 lead in the second-round NBA playoff series with a 115-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
Verb
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With disease ravaging Earth, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) leads a group of astronauts out on an incredibly dangerous mission through a wormhole on a last-ditch attempt at finding somewhere else to live.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
The Thunder dug in their heels through two Game 7s, a title run and a season of ravaging injury luck.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The work included demolishing one stand entirely to create the space required to facilitate those media demands.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
-
While the Israel Defense Forces continue to dismantle the physical fortress — recently demolishing the largest Hezbollah tunnel network in southern Lebanon — the Iranian people are dismantling the regime’s internal legitimacy.—
Liram Koblentz-Stenzler,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Initial tests suggested the outbreak does not involve the Ebola Zaire strain, which caused Congo’s devastating 2018–2020 epidemic that killed more than 1,000 people.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
-
Captiva Though the recovery isn’t totally complete, Captiva is bouncing back from both 2022’s devastating Hurricane Ian and the rough 2024 hurricane season.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The administration’s norm-shattering masks a more fundamental misunderstanding of how administrative power can bring about lasting change.—
Joshua M. Sharfstein,
STAT,
16 May 2026
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At that price point, the home will likely become the most expensive home sold in Miami-Dade, shattering the record set by Zuckerberg earlier this year.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Suarez was caught on surveillance camera smashing into the Volkswagen Jetta on Amsterdam Ave.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
-
Dwight reached out and squeezed my upper arm, pulling me into a bear hug, smashing my face against the rough canvas of his jacket, his gloved hand on my ass pulling me closer.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruining. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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