ruined 1 of 2

adjective

as in done
facing certain defeat, disaster, or death your chances for a promotion were ruined the instance you started mouthing off to the boss

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ruined

2 of 2

verb

past tense of ruin
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

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2
as in destroyed
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action tornadoes ruined a wide swath of the county

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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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ruined
Adjective
Sitting on the rim of his consciousness was always cataclysm, the muted whisper of a ruined world. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
Verb
What once was a world of fellowship has been ruined, covered in a pall of fear. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 July 2026 Dial said his arrest went on his record and ruined his career as an investment broker. — ABC News, 14 July 2026 Michael seemed to be saying that by admitting her dishonesty, Ethel would have ruined their childhood and poisoned any prospect of a future relationship with her. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026 The resulting soundstage is wide-open and staggeringly detailed, so much that some headphones will be forever ruined. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 8 July 2026 Greed, hubris and a Steven Spielberg blockbuster ruined Atari and nearly tanked the home video game industry forever. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026 An Instagram post from Milk Bar, a bar in the Glenwood South area, said the actions of a few ruined the peace for patrons in the area. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026 Croatia still furious Despite the correct decision being made, Croatia manager Zlatko Dalić was far from happy, saying VAR had ruined the spirit of the game. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 3 July 2026 Explosions had all but ruined my hearing. — Will MacKin, New Yorker, 28 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruined
  1. doomed
  2. bankrupted
  3. destroyed
  4. wrecked
  5. sunk
  6. ravaged
  7. demolished
  8. finished
Adjective
  • His untimely death set the template for the doomed, dissolute musician.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
  • George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg portrayed Gloucester fisherman on the doomed Andrea Gail.
    — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of doomed
Verb
  • Richard Stockton, a lawyer who signed the declaration was captured, starved, and nearly bankrupted by the British.
    — Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Most manufacturers were bankrupted by equipment failures and financial challenges, making the 1990s a tough time for wind power’s pioneers.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 15 June 2026
Definition of bankrupted
Verb
  • But just like all other houses in Collins First Nation, her home was completely destroyed by the fires.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • The 1951 Flood claimed lives, destroyed homes and businesses, and scattered one of Kansas City’s largest Hispanic communities.
    — Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
Definition of destroyed
Verb
  • France Under-21 international Jacquet, who arrived in a £60million ($81m at current exchange rates) move from French club Rennes, is fit to feature after recovering from the shoulder injury which wrecked the second half of last season for him.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • But in recent history, the Spanish national soccer team has repeatedly wrecked the plans of dreamers and screenwriters.
    — Filip Bondy, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
Definition of wrecked
Adjective
  • In my experience, mid-market companies operate with leaner teams and cannot absorb the sunk costs of a multi-month implementation with room for scope creep, reworks and failures.
    — Prathamesh Bhingarde, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Then there’s the sunk cost of picks already spent trying to find The Guy — picks that weren’t used for help up front for Bedard.
    — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of sunk
Verb
  • The last three Republican presidents have left the country in the economic and war-ravaged mess that is the standard Republican modus operandi.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 17 July 2026
  • Three years later, the Dixie fire ravaged nearly a million acres.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
Definition of ravaged
Verb
  • West Harbor is the redevelopment of the former waterfront Ports O'Call Village, which was demolished in 2018.
    — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • The two-acre space was the site of the California State Building, which suffered systemic damage in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake and was demolished five years later.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
Definition of demolished
Adjective
  • The bachelor’s degree is no longer best understood as a finished product.
    — David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • The finished works echo the violence suggested by the bullet-riddled boat.
    — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026
Definition of finished

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Cite this Entry

“Ruined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruined. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ruined for Spanish Speakers

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