1
as in bankrupted
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
after he was ruined by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the industrialist was forced to sell his mansion and start all over again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in destroyed
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
tornadoes ruined a wide swath of the county
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wrecked
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
a huge fire that ruined an entire city block
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruined
Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
Bracey Harris, NBC news, 14 Jan. 2026
That they will be personally ruined for doing honest work.
—Dave Myers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Cities are ruined, society is fractured and the future is far worse than the one Jake left behind.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
To many, his trajectory was ruined.
—Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
An administrative office and library were charred by the flames, according to multiple reports, and several Torahs, Jewish holy texts rolled into large scrolls, were ruined or damaged.
—James Powel, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
On the moors, cliffs, and hills there are wind farms; oil terminals; small farms, some of which have been there for many centuries; ruined medieval churches and hermitages; and prehistoric settlements, tombs, and monuments.
—Sarah Moss, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Simon Holmstrom scored his second goal of the game in overtime as the New York Islanders ruined the Wild’s 2026 homecoming, coming from behind three times to hand Minnesota a 4-3 loss in their first home game since before Christmas.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
But becoming the operator ruined the magic.
—Anna Rahmanan, thehustle.co, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
His choices allow the viewer to drink in the intimate details of the ruined world.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
Verb
The library where generations prepared for their bar and bat mitzvahs was ruined, as was an administrative office.
—Bracey Harris, NBC news, 14 Jan. 2026
That they will be personally ruined for doing honest work.
—Dave Myers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Cities are ruined, society is fractured and the future is far worse than the one Jake left behind.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
To many, his trajectory was ruined.
—Amanda Davies, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
An administrative office and library were charred by the flames, according to multiple reports, and several Torahs, Jewish holy texts rolled into large scrolls, were ruined or damaged.
—James Powel, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
On the moors, cliffs, and hills there are wind farms; oil terminals; small farms, some of which have been there for many centuries; ruined medieval churches and hermitages; and prehistoric settlements, tombs, and monuments.
—Sarah Moss, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
Simon Holmstrom scored his second goal of the game in overtime as the New York Islanders ruined the Wild’s 2026 homecoming, coming from behind three times to hand Minnesota a 4-3 loss in their first home game since before Christmas.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
But becoming the operator ruined the magic.
—Anna Rahmanan, thehustle.co, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruined
Adjective
-
Owner Jason Boso fixed that, infusing $2 million into the 10-year-old bar on better bathrooms, a covered section of the patio and a re-done kitchen.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas News,
3 Apr. 2023
Verb
-
Born in 1926 in Weimar Germany, where hyperinflation bankrupted his father’s business, the young Linz witnessed the breakdown of democracy and the onset of Hitler’s dictatorship.—
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
-
In the late 1830s, as a devastating financial crisis bankrupted antislavery societies across the North, the movement seemed splintered and powerless to keep up its petition pressure campaign.—
Time,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Palisades fire killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,000 structures, becoming the third-most destructive fire in state history.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
-
One year after the Palisades Fire leveled entire neighborhoods and destroyed thousands of homes, one Malibu resident is stepping up to help rebuild his community with his architectural expertise.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the Panthers could only score 10 points, as Denver’s fearsome pass rush wrecked Carolina’s best chance at a Super Bowl win.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Jan. 2026
-
McIndoe really wrecked the curve on this one.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Tech trailed by 20 with a little more than 14 minutes on the clock and looked doomed to get run out of its own building.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Even during a doomed spacecraft's final orbit or two, the margin of error allows for several hours, which translates into thousands of miles of distance due to the speed most re-entering satellites move.—
Kiona N. Smith,
Space.com,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Inflation has ravaged household budgets.—
Ali Vaez,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The Texans have been ravaged by injuries on the interior defensive line this season, and many of those players will be free agents.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The apartments will replace a vacant lot that once held Community Christian Church, which was demolished in 2022.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Israel has demolished more than 2,500 buildings in Gaza since the cease-fire began, according to a New York Times analysis of satellite imagery from Planet Labs.—
Samuel Granados,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
With consistent insight, leaders can shift from reactive spending to strategic investing—turning technology from a sunk cost into a competitive advantage.—
Kathleen Hurley,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
With Aguirre’s plan, the efforts will become a sunk cost.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruined. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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