ruination

noun

ru·​in·​a·​tion ˌrü-ə-ˈnā-shən 

: ruin, destruction

Synonyms of ruination

• downfall
• destruction

Examples of ruination in a Sentence

Water pollution is causing the ruination of the fishing industry.

neglect and indifference have proved to be the ruination of more than one marriage

Recent Examples on the Web

The only thing that would satisfy the gremlin in me is the ruination of my freedom. — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026

Wedding fundraising pages are not invoices that require payment under threat of credit ruination. — R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025

And to think that many thought MLB Free Agency in 1976 was the ruination of the sport. — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 19 Jan. 2026

Some of these are arranged into more staid compositions of geometric bands of color, while others bend and bulge into shapes evoking the baroque ruination of junk-yard findings. — Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ruination

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

ruination

noun

ru·​in·​a·​tion ˌrü-ə-ˈnā-shən 

: ruin entry 1 sense 1