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
Raven Brunner, People.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Sophie Turner refused to allow negative comments to ruin her time away from her children.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025
Lorenzo Di Cola snapped a shot of the lunar disk rising over the ruins of Rocca Calascio on Aug. 8, in the runup to the full moon from the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo in Italy.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruin
Verb
She is seen accusing him of ruining their kids’ lives and leaving the family.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Sophie Turner refused to allow negative comments to ruin her time away from her children.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2025
Noun
The landmark is also the site of a large fort dating back around 2,000 years, as well as St Anthony’s Chapel, a picturesque 15th century medieval ruin, according to the tourism board.
—Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2025
Lorenzo Di Cola snapped a shot of the lunar disk rising over the ruins of Rocca Calascio on Aug. 8, in the runup to the full moon from the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo in Italy.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruin
Verb
-
Jerry Garcia's 1977 pet project, which nearly bankrupted the band, screens in IMAX this weekend.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
The co-founder of a Florida nonprofit bankrupted the organization by stealing more than $100 million from trust funds belonging to people with disabilities and special needs, creating financial hardship for many, federal prosecutors said.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
There were 25 diesel buses that were destroyed per the grant regulations, Young said.—
Harley Walls,
Arkansas Online,
7 Aug. 2025
-
But when our home was destroyed, our studio lost, and the war displaced us to Khanyounis’s tent camps, cooking became less about flavor and more about survival.—
Hamada Shaqoura,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Whether or not Congress cuts NIH’s budget, the Trump administration has devastated its ability to operate.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Dozens of people remain missing after heavy flash flooding and a mudslide devastated a village in northern India, killing at least four people, local officials said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The man, a Mexican national, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a federal officer, assaulting a federal officer resulting in bodily injury and destruction of government property, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
-
According to the sprawling 109-page indictment, the suspects conspired to prevent the construction of an 85-acre Atlanta police training center by coordinating and carrying out acts of political violence, intimidation, and property destruction.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
While the 55-year-old man was killed in the wreck, the other three victims suffered minor injuries and are expected to recover.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
11 Aug. 2025
-
In a statement, police Lt. Matthew Koch said officers witnessed the wreck about 6:45 p.m.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The ear piercings and teen fashion accessories store based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, near Chicago, has continued to struggle since a 2018 bankruptcy filing, reports show.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The bankruptcies come as the industry is down approximately 15 percent in volumes carried compared to 2022, according to Old Dominion chief financial officer Adam Satterfield.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Sometimes a great strength can also be the source of a cliff-dive downfall.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
29 July 2025
-
The old notes of downfall, discord, despair no longer resonate.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
27 July 2025
Verb
-
Sanders is the latest in a long line of injuries that have ravaged Cleveland's QB room.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
-
As a 1,000-year flood ravaged Milwaukee and its suburbs over a weekend in August, the aftermath reveals that many need a helping hand.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruin. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share