1
as in downfall
something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life
neglect and indifference have proved to be the ruination of more than one marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
although this is a setback, it isn't complete ruination for the company
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruination
On the left side of the stage, the ruination of the world around Tuesday and Weeks is symbolized by the show’s most astonishing physical feature: Shipley’s magnificent creation of glow-in-the-dark coral-like formations clinging to two other columns.
—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
And to think that many thought MLB Free Agency in 1976 was the ruination of the sport.
—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
19 Jan. 2026
Advertisement What’s perhaps most critical around the plague is its embodiment of feelings of destruction and ruination.
—
Nathan Smith,
Time,
26 Nov. 2025
Wedding fundraising pages are not invoices that require payment under threat of credit ruination.
—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruination
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
And to think that many thought MLB Free Agency in 1976 was the ruination of the sport.
—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
19 Jan. 2026
Advertisement What’s perhaps most critical around the plague is its embodiment of feelings of destruction and ruination.
—
Nathan Smith,
Time,
26 Nov. 2025
Wedding fundraising pages are not invoices that require payment under threat of credit ruination.
—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruination
Noun
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Bunting’s downfall in Toronto was the out-of-control rambunctiousness that led to far too many penalties.
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The steep drop in the housing market and the resulting downfall of the mortgage industry led to a credit crisis that brought the economy into a recession.
Noun
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David Hearn, a former Olympic canoeist, told the the Washington Post he was arrested on June 19 and charged with misdemeanor destruction of government property.
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This came on the heels of another round of tornadoes just four days earlier that leveled buildings and caused widespread destruction across the region.
Noun
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Following years of economic devastation and underinvestment in public services, the country’s infrastructure – from hospitals to electricity and water – is ill-equipped to deal with a crisis like this.
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And then there's water damage and the devastation caused by flooding.
Noun
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To wreak havoc on an unknown person.
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He was also caught on surveillance video allegedly on the attack outside a pizzeria with a weapon, the outlet reported, adding that social media videos show havoc in other areas of the city as well.
Noun
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With ruthless competitors who will stop at nothing to dethrone and destroy them, the Whitlocks are a blue-collar dynasty at the edge of extinction – and the old king is fighting to hold onto the crown.
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Companies should think of the SaaSpocalypse as an urgent wake-up call, treating this moment as an opportunity for evolution rather than an extinction event.
Noun
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As Hinkley’s family and fiancée mourn the loss of a young man who still had his entire future ahead of him, prosecutors emphasized the scrutiny applied when criminal allegations involve an on-duty law enforcement officer.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have long been one of Major League Baseball’s most successful franchises, which means their players often find themselves at the center of conversations that extend beyond wins and losses.
Noun
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The Beck Recreation Center closed last summer, and part of the building is scheduled for demolition.
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And the proposal could be subject to the city’s demolition review process for historic buildings through the Historic Preservation Commission, which could vote to delay demolition for up to 45 days.
Cite this Entry
“Ruination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruination. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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