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
Relevance
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
By now, my colleagues have grown accustomed to my gleeful ruination of the workplace.
—
Ariel Dumas, New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2025
Wedding fundraising pages are not invoices that require payment under threat of credit ruination.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
Fetterman and McCormick set for high-stakes Pennsylvania forum MAJOR HEADLINES
‘DAMAGING DECISION’ – Trump says tariff ruling could lead to 'economic ruination' of US.
—FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
Charged with gun possession and bribing a witness, Mr. Combs stood trial for seven weeks in early 2001, facing the possibility of 15 years in prison — and, possibly, the ruination of his career.
—Ben Sisario, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruination
Ariel Dumas, New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2025
Wedding fundraising pages are not invoices that require payment under threat of credit ruination.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
Fetterman and McCormick set for high-stakes Pennsylvania forum MAJOR HEADLINES
‘DAMAGING DECISION’ – Trump says tariff ruling could lead to 'economic ruination' of US.
—FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025
Charged with gun possession and bribing a witness, Mr. Combs stood trial for seven weeks in early 2001, facing the possibility of 15 years in prison — and, possibly, the ruination of his career.
—Ben Sisario, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruination
Noun
-
Industry experts blame a litany of mistakes for Sears’ downfall, including how the retailer navigated competition, lost its identity and lacked foresight as e-commerce took off.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
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Weinstein’s precipitous downfall came after the New Yorker and The New York Times published explosive investigative reporting in late 2017 accusing him of habitually preying on women from his powerful perch in Hollywood and blacklisting those who rejected him.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The fighting has carved a path of destruction from agricultural towns near the border to Beirut, killing more than 2,000 people and displacing in excess of 1 million others, according to Lebanese authorities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Washington wanted to test if the Iranian command, after seeing the destruction from six weeks of war and the killing of its Supreme Leader, would now bend to its will, experts said.—
Saeed Shah,
Time,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In an interview with the editorial board, Prang was asked what effect the devastation of the Eaton and Palisades fires in January 2025 would have on his office.—
The Editorial Board,
Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The devastation resulted in 235 buildings destroyed and the death of 72 townspeople; 205 others suffered injuries.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The aim is for Abdul to cause havoc in the United States, the West Bank and Iran.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In the twentieth century, the same storms that made headlines in New York wreaked quieter havoc across the river.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lumping all of these together—with the fringe extinction-risk crowd, or the StopAI protesters—misses what’s actually driving the force.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The paper argued that humanity is quickly accelerating toward extinction and advocated for violence against people who are working on developing AI.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Schlapp said there's an easy explanation for Orbán's loss.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The loss against Nashville dropped Charlotte to fifth in the Eastern Conference, a goal behind NYC FC for fourth place with a chance to leapfrog them on Saturday.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The demolition of a century of history in McKeesport began on Monday, as crews started tearing down the site of the old Penn-McKee Hotel.—
Chilekasi Adele,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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According to Swire Properties, the demolition will make way for the groundbreaking of the Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami, a two-tower ultraluxury hotel and residential development scheduled for completion in 2030.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruination. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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