1
as in bankrupts
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 ravages
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 destroys
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
as in rubble
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
the ruins of an abandoned abbey
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruins
New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
No matter how beautiful your kitchen is, grime on your appliances immediately ruins its look.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2025
When that happens, 67% of teens say their malfunctioning laptop ruins their entire day.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025
One mistake often ruins an entire load, sending recyclables straight to landfills.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2025
In the area of the bridge ruins, a number of other artifacts were also uncovered.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Athens, Greece Athens glows beneath Mediterranean light, where marble ruins rise from its timeworn hillsides—from the world-famous Parthenon to the Temple of Hephaestus.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Nothing ruins my mood more than seeing people stuck in 2012, and fixing this situation really doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket.
—PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2025
This is not very photogenic, and in fact ruins the picture!
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
Jeryl Brunner, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
That includes stepping back in time to see ruins in Greece, Italy, and Egypt, as well as wildlife and nature-based trips, such as the Galapagos Islands.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 17 Sep. 2025
While much of Sogdian culture may be lost to time, some of their structures still stand, including the ruins of an ornate palace hidden among northwestern Tajikistan’s dry, rocky terrain.
—Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025
Ahmed Helles, 54, a father of eight, told NBC News while sitting beside the ruins of his home.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025
Much of Gaza City was laid to waste in the early weeks of the war in 2023, but around 1 million Palestinians had returned there to homes among the ruins.
—Steven Scheer, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
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
During the eight-day cruise, guests will visit the terra-cotta temples in Kalna, the Nawabi palaces of Murshidabad, the Mughal gardens of Khushbagh, the haunting ruins of Gaur, and Mayapur’s sprawling Hare Krishna complex.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
When shoe stink ruins a perfectly good rack.
—New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
No matter how beautiful your kitchen is, grime on your appliances immediately ruins its look.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2025
When that happens, 67% of teens say their malfunctioning laptop ruins their entire day.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025
One mistake often ruins an entire load, sending recyclables straight to landfills.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2025
In the area of the bridge ruins, a number of other artifacts were also uncovered.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Athens, Greece Athens glows beneath Mediterranean light, where marble ruins rise from its timeworn hillsides—from the world-famous Parthenon to the Temple of Hephaestus.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Nothing ruins my mood more than seeing people stuck in 2012, and fixing this situation really doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket.
—PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2025
This is not very photogenic, and in fact ruins the picture!
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
With its quiet chapels, ancient ruins, vineyards, and the island’s restaurant La Tonnelle, Saint-Honorat is a place where visitors are welcome, but peace is preserved.
—Jeryl Brunner, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
That includes stepping back in time to see ruins in Greece, Italy, and Egypt, as well as wildlife and nature-based trips, such as the Galapagos Islands.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 17 Sep. 2025
While much of Sogdian culture may be lost to time, some of their structures still stand, including the ruins of an ornate palace hidden among northwestern Tajikistan’s dry, rocky terrain.
—Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025
Ahmed Helles, 54, a father of eight, told NBC News while sitting beside the ruins of his home.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 17 Sep. 2025
Much of Gaza City was laid to waste in the early weeks of the war in 2023, but around 1 million Palestinians had returned there to homes among the ruins.
—Steven Scheer, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
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
During the eight-day cruise, guests will visit the terra-cotta temples in Kalna, the Nawabi palaces of Murshidabad, the Mughal gardens of Khushbagh, the haunting ruins of Gaur, and Mayapur’s sprawling Hare Krishna complex.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruins
Verb
-
As extreme heat ravages New York City this summer, the lives of thousands detained on Rikers Island hang in the balance.—
Darren Mack,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Jake and Vince have an unbreakable bond that destroys everyone and everything, but as Law points out, their issues are rooted in their early family life.—
Dana Feldman,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
This final betrayal will be his undoing, as the enraged creature, doomed to live without connection, care, or love, finally snaps and destroys everything Victor holds dear.—
Thomas Page McBee,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Every window was blown out, and rubble littered the ground.—
Ken Harbaugh,
The Atlantic,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Images from the incident show firefighters on the scene searching through the rubble of the building following the explosion.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Deadly flooding devastates South Asia Almost 400 people have died in Pakistan after flash floods brought destruction throughout the country’s north.—
Semafor Staff,
semafor.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Illness devastates the novel’s humble, endearing protagonist, who bravely crosses class boundaries in her enthralling search for peace.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Messy data wrecks forecasts, distorts reporting and wastes time.—
Thasha Batts,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Police and military personnel inspect a property damaged by debris from a Russian drone shot down in eastern Poland earlier this month.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The control panel even displays different lights (blue, pink, and red) to indicate the debris levels on the floor.—
Lily Gray,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
What To Know Warsaw said that Russian drones violated Polish airspace 19 times on the night of September 9 and 10, with data showing the wreckage of Russian drones across the country.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Footage of the aftermath of the collision posted on social media shows a large fire and pillars of dark smoke emanating from the wreckage.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The shift change shatters my sleep like a robin’s egg crashing against pavement.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Most sitcoms that cast celebrities to play themselves go the Thompson route, crafting a character that completely shatters the person’s public image.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruins. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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