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
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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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Sometimes a great strength can also be the source of a cliff-dive downfall.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
29 July 2025
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The old notes of downfall, discord, despair no longer resonate.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
27 July 2025
Noun
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The man, a Mexican national, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a federal officer, assaulting a federal officer resulting in bodily injury and destruction of government property, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
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According to the sprawling 109-page indictment, the suspects conspired to prevent the construction of an 85-acre Atlanta police training center by coordinating and carrying out acts of political violence, intimidation, and property destruction.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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As such, bright moonlight will flood the sky through most of that key night and will certainly play havoc with any serious attempts to observe these meteors.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Coach Mike McDaniel’s offense is operating at a fairly efficient rate and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s defense has a front seven that’s capable of creating major havoc in the run and pass games.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The hearty creatures, once systemically slaughtered by European settlers to the detriment of Native American tribes, are now grazing their way back from the brink of extinction.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
7 Aug. 2025
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Eighteenth-century naturalists debated the concept of extinction even as rattlers—like Native Americans—were driven out of existence in many areas via bounties, community-wide kill-a-thons, and militias.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Frenk acknowledged this in the letter and claimed that the loss of such funding would be detrimental to his university and people throughout the country.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Aug. 2025
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How will Wednesday solve the mystery with her injuries and the loss of her psychic ability?—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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To create Tesla’s 10-million-square-foot production hub outside of Austin, Texas – known as the Gigafactory – contractors were hired for demolition, plumbing, painting and even to install robots that help build the carmaker’s vehicles, according to lien filings.—
Audrey Ash,
CNN Money,
31 July 2025
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But facing a tight deadline — the church had to be moved by July 31, 1967, or prepared for demolition — the rescuers ran out of time.—
Chris Foran,
jsonline.com,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruination. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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