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
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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
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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
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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
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of ruin
Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
An attorney representing former Santa Clara Vice Mayor Anthony Becker is asking a county judge to give the ex-official probation — not jail time — arguing that his conviction late last year has already damaged his reputation and ruined his career, according to a new court filing.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Apr. 2025
Nearly three months after L.A.-area fires, the 30th victim was discovered in Altadena ruins.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruin
Verb
These companies now risk ruining their relationship with either the U.S., or the partners who have asked that these DEI initiatives stay in place.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
An attorney representing former Santa Clara Vice Mayor Anthony Becker is asking a county judge to give the ex-official probation — not jail time — arguing that his conviction late last year has already damaged his reputation and ruined his career, according to a new court filing.
—Grace Hase, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
More than a decade after Syria’s brutal civil war began, the country’s new leadership faces the daunting task of rebuilding an army from the ruins of sectarianism, warlordism, and foreign intervention.
—Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Apr. 2025
Nearly three months after L.A.-area fires, the 30th victim was discovered in Altadena ruins.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruin
Verb
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Legal fees and payouts to her former employees had bankrupted her, and she’d been reduced to driving a Ford Taurus.—
Nick Tabor,
Curbed,
11 Apr. 2025
-
But like so many people, he had been bankrupted by his infection.—
Stephanie Nolen,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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More than half a dozen tornadoes have been confirmed, including one in Marshall County, Oklahoma, that left two homes completely destroyed and damaged about 20 others.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The loss has brought yet another heartbreak for the Townsend family, stemming from the mass shooting that devastated this suburban Denver community 26 years ago.—
Nicquel Terry Ellis,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2025
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At first, Tyrion's owner was devastated with her dog's diagnosis.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The April 4 announcement of the security zone expansion and the destruction of Umm al-Nasser demonstrates the IDF's continued military operations in Gaza and is an example of how quickly the conditions in Gaza have deteriorated since the ceasefire.—
Kerem Inal,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2025
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Here are the main players joining Joel and Ellie in fortified Jackson, Wyoming, five years after the Firefly destruction: Isabela Merced stars as Dina Who's Dina?—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The wreck happened during the eighth flight of the day.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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On or about June 6, the oil tanker Ottawa found the body of assistant steward William Thomas Kerley floating a reported 543 miles from the wreck site.—
Greg Daugherty,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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About The Daily Money Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version, and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
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But amidst all of that moral bankruptcy, at least one of the lot has emerged with their integrity intact.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
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On Wednesday evening, Emery returns to Paris, in the competition which ultimately caused his downfall at the Parc des Princes.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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But Mike's past seems to catch up to him as a kingpin cartel widow, Isabel (Kate del Castillo), and her son Armando (Jacob Scipio) begin targeting people tied to her husband's downfall, including Mike.—
Rendy Jones,
EW.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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People stay at home and shop online, ravaging the streetscape of storefronts.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
18 Apr. 2025
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Earlier this year, Osment was among the thousands of Angelenos who lost their homes in the devastating wildfires that ravaged parts of Southern California in January.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruin. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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