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
Eleanor M. Perfetto, STAT, 7 Feb. 2026
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins centers around a former NFL star (Morgan) who attempts to put his life back together after a gambling scandal ruins him.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
Exposure to high humidity and low temperatures can severely alter these items, which not only ruins their aesthetic beauty but also impacts their sound.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 25 Jan. 2026
However, too much acid ruins the dish.
—Lewis Schiff, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Following the adventures of the titular sheep, the franchise’s latest takes place at Mossy Bottom Farm on Halloween Eve, watching as excitement turns to dismay when the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
In fact, some of the greatest novels are about how reading ruins lives—starting with the book often considered the first modern novel, Don Quixote.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
Following an economic downturn and a devastating freeze that ruins the local citrus industry, the Sentinel and Reporter consolidate operations and become the Sentinel-Reporter.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
Fear is a powerful emotion that ruins our quality of life.
—Clay Stauffer, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Dec. 2025
Katie Parla, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
While family members viewed the ruins stored at Veterans Park, construction crews were working on the site directly across the street.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
In the ruins of a dystopian Rio de Janeiro—a city fractured by class conflict and addicted to blood sport—a resistance leader is forced to enter a violent, high-stakes race to save his sister from a fate worse than death.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Players can farm, fish, make friends with islanders, explore mystical ruins and travel using vehicles ranging from rollerblades to motorbikes with sidecars.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
The ruins were recently found at Island Beach State Park, a narrow barrier island along the Jersey Shore in Ocean County.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
In a nation lacking Roman ruins or Mesoamerican pyramids, the antebellum mansions of the Old South play a nearly perfect substitute.
—Joe Sills, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The trail officially ends after 1 mile at the ruins of an old cabin.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The ruins of one of what was once the northernmost bishopric sat nearby.
—Tim Neville, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
When fans see an exciting big hit, thinking about how the players might not know their own family members in 30 years ruins the fun.
—Eleanor M. Perfetto, STAT, 7 Feb. 2026
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins centers around a former NFL star (Morgan) who attempts to put his life back together after a gambling scandal ruins him.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
Exposure to high humidity and low temperatures can severely alter these items, which not only ruins their aesthetic beauty but also impacts their sound.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 25 Jan. 2026
However, too much acid ruins the dish.
—Lewis Schiff, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Following the adventures of the titular sheep, the franchise’s latest takes place at Mossy Bottom Farm on Halloween Eve, watching as excitement turns to dismay when the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
In fact, some of the greatest novels are about how reading ruins lives—starting with the book often considered the first modern novel, Don Quixote.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
Following an economic downturn and a devastating freeze that ruins the local citrus industry, the Sentinel and Reporter consolidate operations and become the Sentinel-Reporter.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
Fear is a powerful emotion that ruins our quality of life.
—Clay Stauffer, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Dec. 2025
Noun
The place was used for wild beast hunts, public executions, and gladiator fights for several hundred years, then became a condo of sorts as medieval Romans made their homes in the hulking ruins.
—Katie Parla, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
While family members viewed the ruins stored at Veterans Park, construction crews were working on the site directly across the street.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
In the ruins of a dystopian Rio de Janeiro—a city fractured by class conflict and addicted to blood sport—a resistance leader is forced to enter a violent, high-stakes race to save his sister from a fate worse than death.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Players can farm, fish, make friends with islanders, explore mystical ruins and travel using vehicles ranging from rollerblades to motorbikes with sidecars.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
The ruins were recently found at Island Beach State Park, a narrow barrier island along the Jersey Shore in Ocean County.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
In a nation lacking Roman ruins or Mesoamerican pyramids, the antebellum mansions of the Old South play a nearly perfect substitute.
—Joe Sills, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The trail officially ends after 1 mile at the ruins of an old cabin.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The ruins of one of what was once the northernmost bishopric sat nearby.
—Tim Neville, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruins
Verb
-
Published in 1842, Poe’s story follows Prince Prospero, who retreats with a group of nobles into a fortified abbey as a deadly plague ravages the countryside.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Jan. 2026
-
This horror ravages Africa far beyond Nigeria.—
Nuri Kino,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
And God does and kills everybody and destroys everything.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
-
His stance joins a bipartisan chorus, including GOP leaders and Governor Shapiro, warning that inciting violence against Jewish neighbors destroys the path toward peace.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The drone completely destroyed the house in the city of Bohodukhiv, trapping the family under the rubble.—
Mariia Kashchenko,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The strike completely destroyed the brick house and set it on fire, trapping the family under the rubble, according to the Kharkiv regional prosecutor’s office.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kyiv residents endure long daily blackouts as Russia devastates the power system, leaving tower block dwellers freezing in apartments with no heat or light.—
Derek Gatopoulos,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Exacerbating the problem, unpredictable rainfall cycling between drought and floods further devastates the region.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In a film like this, you’re ostensibly meant to root against the terror that the central characters wrecks on his victims.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
16 Jan. 2026
-
This process wrecks kidney and heart tissue, causing the heart to enlarge and blood vessels to become stiffer, impeding circulation and setting the stage for clots.—
Jyoti Madhusoodanan,
Scientific American,
16 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The helicopter crashed about 50 feet from a BNSF Railway line and spread debris across the tracks, according to the railway.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The latest filing demolishes the timeworn claim that DOGE was infiltrated into Social Security in order to responsibly ferret out fraud and overspending.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Since well before Larry David came along, celebrities have been breaking their own life’s fourth wall and finding comedy among the wreckage.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The Pentagon declined to provide further detail, including about the possible wreckage of the drone.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruins. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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