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
Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
But this war may well have ruined the chances for such diplomatic options for many years to come.
—Matthew Bunn, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
The evening's historic tie almost gets totally ruined For only the seventh time in history, the Oscar vote ended in a tie.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Few things are more miserable than wet socks or suede sandals ruined by an impromptu downpour.
—Iman Balagam, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026
And Zoe Saldaña generously held a fan for her publicist before two people on her team tried to fan her at the same time, leading her to joke that her hair was going to get ruined.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 16 Mar. 2026
The same-day re-inspection was ruined by four live roaches still hanging out under the cookline.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Mike Evans signs in San Francisco Evans opened his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons, but injuries ruined his 2025 campaign.
—Jake Ciely, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
His choices allow the viewer to drink in the intimate details of the ruined world.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
Verb
Depending on how bad the pest ruined plants in a particular latitude, the farmer either made it financially, or borrowed more from the bank to eat during the winter.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Mar. 2026
But this war may well have ruined the chances for such diplomatic options for many years to come.
—Matthew Bunn, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
The evening's historic tie almost gets totally ruined For only the seventh time in history, the Oscar vote ended in a tie.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Few things are more miserable than wet socks or suede sandals ruined by an impromptu downpour.
—Iman Balagam, InStyle, 16 Mar. 2026
And Zoe Saldaña generously held a fan for her publicist before two people on her team tried to fan her at the same time, leading her to joke that her hair was going to get ruined.
—Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 16 Mar. 2026
The same-day re-inspection was ruined by four live roaches still hanging out under the cookline.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026
Mike Evans signs in San Francisco Evans opened his career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons, but injuries ruined his 2025 campaign.
—Jake Ciely, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 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
-
Once the world’s leading producer, it was bankrupted by China’s price dumping.—
Markos Kounalakis,
Mercury News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The cases are ongoing, with plaintiffs also filing claims against the trusts of companies bankrupted by the litigation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The fire destroyed more than 160 structures and charred 25,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Her clothes and makeup were destroyed in the damage.—
Leondra Head,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Texas State infielder Aiyana Coleman wrecked ULM's shot at a Sun Belt regular-season title in 2025, recording two back-breaking home runs in the final series of the year.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Kim Gartner, whose nephew's property was wrecked in storms overnight in Kankakee, described softball-sized hail that shattered car windows.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Gary and Fort Pierce was a doomed union.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Certainly, that off feeling had to do with some very scary changes across the film and media industries, where many people feel doomed to lose their jobs.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Chargers, meanwhile, take an offensive lineman to address the need that haunted them all last season after they were ravaged by injuries up front.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Buenos Aires, at the time, was ravaged by the disease, and Prager says that project was one of the most meaningful of his life.—
Jack Crosbie,
Rolling Stone,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The strip mall was cleared of commercial tenants and demolished in September 2021, leaving many in the surrounding neighborhood wondering when real estate development would fill in the empty land.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The Power House in Zion has already been demolished.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Once a team trades draft capital to acquire or retain a star, those picks become sunk costs.—
Spencer Harrison,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Stress and resentment often builds within relationships driven by sunk cost thinking, which increases within the relationship.—
Gabrielle Kassel,
SELF,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruined. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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