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
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
Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
That’s why his mistress threw in with Frank to intimidate Dale into a land deal that would have ruined any chance of Chutto’s family ever getting their land back.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
His master plan of selecting Joe Flacco with the 32nd pick was ruined by the Baltimore Ravens, and Miami was forced to settle on Michigan quarterback Chad Henne in the second round.
—Omar Kelly
november 4, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
Because when those premiums go up by 100, 200%, people’s lives are ruined.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2025
An old fur coat or feather stole could also be ruined.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Cash is king right now, Hsia said, and the AFJ is matching up to $1 million in donations that will go toward things such as new roofs for houses whose roofs were blown off and new furniture after many people's belongings were soaked through and ruined.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
Yeah, my evening was ruined, but the season wasn’t.
—Will Brantley, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
But Lissu ruined it all by his self-centric strategies.
—Danish Manzoor Bhat, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
His choices allow the viewer to drink in the intimate details of the ruined world.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
Verb
However her past experiences haven't ruined the actress' trips back home.
—Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
That’s why his mistress threw in with Frank to intimidate Dale into a land deal that would have ruined any chance of Chutto’s family ever getting their land back.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
His master plan of selecting Joe Flacco with the 32nd pick was ruined by the Baltimore Ravens, and Miami was forced to settle on Michigan quarterback Chad Henne in the second round.
—Omar Kelly
november 4, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
Because when those premiums go up by 100, 200%, people’s lives are ruined.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2025
An old fur coat or feather stole could also be ruined.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Cash is king right now, Hsia said, and the AFJ is matching up to $1 million in donations that will go toward things such as new roofs for houses whose roofs were blown off and new furniture after many people's belongings were soaked through and ruined.
—Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
Yeah, my evening was ruined, but the season wasn’t.
—Will Brantley, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
But Lissu ruined it all by his self-centric strategies.
—Danish Manzoor Bhat, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025
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
-
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
-
Multiple rocket explosions nearly bankrupted the company.—
Joel Shulman,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 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
-
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
-
In 1963, a fire ravaged the Hotel Del Mar and forced its permanent closure.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The area however had not been in use since 1995, when Hurricane Luis ravaged Mullet Bay, and no substantial repairs or development had been done since then, the complaint says.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In 2024, the abanonded LaGrave Field baseball stadium was demolished.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The tall high-rise buildings not demolished in Gaza City are seen in the far distance.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
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 10 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share