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
Athens used its financial power to abuse its allies and in doing so precipitated its own ruination.
—
Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 24 Jan. 2020
There’s a scene, an almost 14-minute long take, that centers on Otilia at her boyfriend’s birthday party, saying next to nothing, as the elders around her lambaste her generation for the ruination of traditional values.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2024
In essence, not properly processing our body’s needs and its requirements tempts ruination.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 31 July 2024
Proponents of the curse theory pointed to centuries of death, injury, ruination, quarrels, and dreams dashed upon the rocks.
—Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for ruination
Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 24 Jan. 2020
There’s a scene, an almost 14-minute long take, that centers on Otilia at her boyfriend’s birthday party, saying next to nothing, as the elders around her lambaste her generation for the ruination of traditional values.
—Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2024
In essence, not properly processing our body’s needs and its requirements tempts ruination.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 31 July 2024
Proponents of the curse theory pointed to centuries of death, injury, ruination, quarrels, and dreams dashed upon the rocks.
—Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for ruination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruination
Noun
-
One of the downfalls Oklahoma City had last year was production from the supporting cast.—
Nick Crain,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
-
The downfall wasn’t immediate, however, as Louise—like many of Joe’s love interests—wrestled with her own romantic feelings for him before coming to the realization about who Joe really was.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
That's because full destruction of the Iranian program is impossible at this point.—
Faisal Kutty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 May 2025
-
Despite trillions of dollars at stake, forest destruction—and the corporate role in driving it—is still widely treated as a peripheral issue.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
Emotional devastation lingers in L.A. fire zones March 9, 2025 Questions of how people can donate their own cookbook collections to the cause are already pouring in; Now Serving hopes to organize donation drives in the future, perhaps for an event in July, six months from the fires’ havoc.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
-
The film rocketed back in time to show the havoc the creature wreaked on a group of Native Americans in the Great Plains during the 18th century.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Many populations and species of fireflies are threatened with extinction in the United States due to these factors.—
Owen Martin,
The Conversation,
1 May 2025
-
Threshold fertility for the avoidance of extinction under critical conditions.—
Maria Morava,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Peter Dutton, leader of the conservative Liberal party, conceded defeat and the loss of his own seat - echoing the fate of Canada's conservatives and their leader whose election losses days earlier were also attributed to a Trump backlash.—
Kirsty Needham,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
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Gum graft surgery can help manage these symptoms, prevent tooth loss, and protect the jawbones from damage.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
Devices that aren’t fused, and are therefore safe to move, are taken to a demolition site in the middle of a field.—
Lynsey Addario,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
As written, the bills would also allow demolitions without review in other local historic districts, including the city of Miami’s Miami Modern, or MiMo, district on Biscayne Boulevard.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruination. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
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