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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ruin
Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Jan. 2026
Don't let winter ruin your best pairs.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 6 Jan. 2026
Dan Walters, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Now, Maduro’s capture puts at risk a decadeslong alliance that saved Cuba from total economic ruin following the collapse of its former economic patron, the Soviet Union.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruin
Verb
Chavez was cracking down on dissent, and his economic policies were ruining her family’s chicken processing business, Presti said.
—Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Jan. 2026
Don't let winter ruin your best pairs.
—Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
History tells us that taking prosperity for granted — think Detroit — is an invitation to economic ruin.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2026
Now, Maduro’s capture puts at risk a decadeslong alliance that saved Cuba from total economic ruin following the collapse of its former economic patron, the Soviet Union.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruin
Verb
-
Yamagami blames the sect for bankrupting his family through excessive donations from his mother, a member.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Born in 1926 in Weimar Germany, where hyperinflation bankrupted his father’s business, the young Linz witnessed the breakdown of democracy and the onset of Hitler’s dictatorship.—
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
But the Red Sox destroyed and ended their relationship with their only true power hitter and proven winner for a player who, though an undeniably excellent addition, was here for 117 total games.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
-
In the Pacific Palisades and nearby Malibu, flames burned for 31 days, scorching 37 square miles and destroying more than 6,000 structures, most of them homes.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mel Brooks said the murders of Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer would have devastated Carl Reiner, the director’s late father and Brooks’ longtime close friend and comedy partner.—
David Matthews,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Neighbors on the road were devastated to see the fire.—
Samantha Chaney,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Taking office as a result of the most corrupt Election ever seen in the United States, Biden oversaw a series of unprecedented disasters that brought our Nation to the brink of destruction.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Tony Blain, who resigned from his council seat last fall, is also accused of destruction of public documents and misdemeanor petty theft, according to the criminal complaint filed in October.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The teacher witnesses the car wreck and runs inside to retrieve her phone, using a rock to keep the door propped open.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Fidel Sáez lost his mother in the wreck, but his two children, his brother and a nephew survived.—
Joseph Wilson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
It’s expected that Saks Global will draw up a new schedule for paying vendors, which must be approved by the bankruptcy court judge.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Some filings in the bankruptcy case indicate that Academy West wasn’t collecting nearly enough from rents to cover the property’s monthly mortgage costs, let alone other crucial expenses such as insurance, maintenance, and property taxes.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
From Friday evening to Saturday afternoon, the Norman station predicts that the majority of the downfall will include snow ice accumulations.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Dote catered to a younger YouTube-era audience, offering popular lifestyle creators, including Emma Chamberlain, Olivia Jade and Hannah Meloche, ongoing, age-appropriate versions of the Trippin’ treatment, before a controversial Coachella trip in 2019 ultimately led to the brand’s downfall.—
Dahvi Shira,
Forbes.com,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
It should also be noted that Altadena, another community ravaged by fire, is in unincorporated Los Angeles County, and not within the city limits.—
John Phillips,
Oc Register,
20 Jan. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Ruin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruin. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
