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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruination
The sense of ruination experienced by the organizers of those art spaces was something familiar to Quraiqi, who wrote on his Instagram this year that Israeli forces had destroyed his studio.
—
Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Read: The mysterious, meteoric rise of Shein In the past several years, cultural awareness has grown about the reality of the fast-fashion business model, which relies on paying factory workers shockingly low wages and takes a multifaceted approach to furthering the ruination of the planet.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 18 Mar. 2025
The one-time ingenue made gallows humor out of her ruination, glorying in the cracks and croaks of her voice.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025
The aftershocks of the Vietnam War and the ruination of family legacy also came into play in Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974).
—Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ruination
Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Read: The mysterious, meteoric rise of Shein In the past several years, cultural awareness has grown about the reality of the fast-fashion business model, which relies on paying factory workers shockingly low wages and takes a multifaceted approach to furthering the ruination of the planet.
—Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 18 Mar. 2025
The one-time ingenue made gallows humor out of her ruination, glorying in the cracks and croaks of her voice.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2025
The aftershocks of the Vietnam War and the ruination of family legacy also came into play in Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974).
—Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ruination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruination
Noun
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The real hoax is that the Democrats are now using these victims to deflect from their party's spectacular downfall.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
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Spirit’s downfall is partly the result of higher interest rates.—
Frank Holmes,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Critical wildlife habitat may be put at risk for alteration or wholesale destruction.—
Ryan Gellert,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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But tenants have little legal footing to stand on in combating that destruction.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Rosie O'Donnell recalled her devastation over how her friendship with Ellen DeGeneres fell apart more than 20 years ago.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Indeed, moves toward open Saudi diplomatic recognition of Israel were stopped by Hamas’ attack and the global backlash that followed Israel’s ongoing devastation of Gaza.—
David Mednicoff,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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While not all of the federal government’s tariff revenue is at risk, losing a huge chunk would still create havoc on the deficit and bond market.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
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Steve gently coaxes him back to school, where the film crew is causing havoc.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The story of the American lion is a tale of power, survival and eventual extinction.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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He was not involved in the latest research but has studied trends in insect extinction, noting that many insect genera have survived mass extinctions unscathed.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The 49ers’ defensive coordinator, Nate Faanes, found the right lineup combinations in Saturday night’s loss, even without starting defensive linemen Jaylon Johnson and DJ Burgess, the latter being out for the season with an upper-body injury.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
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Florida Democrats, weakened by years of losses and fractured messaging, continue to face a shrinking electorate.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There is nothing to choose between them, but there was a consistency, clinical edge and an abracadabra touch that made this performance the best Alcaraz has played in a major final, barring that 2024 demolition of Novak Djokovic on Centre Court.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Historic districts come with additional rules and regulations for renovations, construction and demolitions.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruination. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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