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
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
Athens used its financial power to abuse its allies and in doing so precipitated its own ruination.
—Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 24 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for ruination
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
Athens used its financial power to abuse its allies and in doing so precipitated its own ruination.
—Henry Farrell, Foreign Affairs, 24 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for ruination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruination
Noun
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While there’s no telling what the next two films might have in store for her character, knowing the traditionalism of ritualism of the village, there is perhaps some allusion to Arthur’s sister Morgana, who became his downfall.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
23 June 2025
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But Dehghani speculated that such a move would probably expand the war and end in Khamenei’s downfall, as a rival faction would then be motivated to seize the reins and seek peace with the United States.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
22 June 2025
Noun
-
Leave the innocents, the children, the ones who just want to live a simple life, out of the bombing and destruction.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2025
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The result of these and other assaults, wrote Jed Kolko, a former undersecretary for economic affairs at the Commerce Department overseeing data operations at the Census Bureau and BEA, will include the destruction of trust in U.S. economic data.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
Noun
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The narrow streets bend, wrap back on themselves, and otherwise create directional havoc.—
Liz Tracey,
JSTOR Daily,
24 June 2025
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The consent decree clears a major hurdle for the Omnicom-IPG deal, with the companies seeking to merge as artificial intelligence prepares to wreck havoc across the industry.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
23 June 2025
Noun
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Ars Technica: Populations of the tiger shark, the great white, and couple of other species have declined so dramatically that many are on the verge of extinction.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 June 2025
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There are as many as 37 species of guitarfish, some of which are at higher risk of extinction than others.—
Peter Kyne,
The Conversation,
16 June 2025
Noun
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Revenue is set to fall 21 percent to 120 million pounds, with pre-tax losses widening slightly to 23 million pounds.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
20 June 2025
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Only a system designed with these principles can truly protect your organization, reduce losses and maintain trust with your honest customers.—
Marcin Nowak,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Noun
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The deal in question will see major revitalization of the state’s highway service plazas over the next several years, with several of the rest stop facilities scheduled for outright demolition and reconstruction.—
Matthew Medsger,
Boston Herald,
18 June 2025
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Not trophy assets but entire trophy cabinets—many of which, curiously, were once owned by the great robber barons of the 19th and 20th centuries, and almost all of which have a knack for irking neighbors with their various adjustments, demolitions, and surgical tweaks.—
CHOP CHOPPISH SHOP,
Air Mail,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruination. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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