ruining

present participle of ruin
1
as in bankrupting
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
3
as in wrecking
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 ruining But therein lies the problem with ruining baseball and predicting the World Series in August. Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Tarik Skubal did not go into last week expecting to be the latest avatar for the Los Angeles Dodgers ruining baseball. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 But in the interim, ruining Chicago summers, holidays and other travel isn’t worth it, no matter how much money United would make from forcing out the competition. Ray Lahood, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 Shop additional Ilia beauty products below, and don’t fret about the heat ruining your glam. Jennifer Chan, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026 Floyd is no longer attracted to his wife, has trouble connecting with his teen-age stepson, and owes tens of thousands in taxes—a set of stressors that are ruining his health. Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026 Plus, one of the biggest things that holds people back from DIY is a fear of ruining their home, but that’s virtually impossible with peel-and-stick wallpaper. Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 13 July 2026 Clothes moths are indoor pests notorious for ruining the best threads in any closet. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2026 But the neighboring 171-feet Shelborne By Proper hotel says the new tower will cast a shadow over its pool, ruining the experience for guests at the luxury hotel. Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruining
Verb
  • Sometimes the very entities owning these hospitals and nursing homes are purposely bankrupting them, pillaging them of their value to maximize the owners’ profits.
    Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • At a June forum for county executive candidates, former Legislator Dan Tarwater III said that the lawsuit could cost up to $1 billion in payouts, potentially bankrupting Jackson County.
    Ilana Arougheti July 23, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • The fire ripped through hillside neighborhoods, destroying mansions with spectacular ocean views.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
  • At that tipping point, the only solution is for oil prices to surge, destroying enough demand for oil that the market can return to equilibrium.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Come for the timeliness, stay for Cap wrecking a bunch of guys in an elevator.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Long-distance backpacking is having a moment, and readers planning a first thru-hike want to know how to prepare without wrecking their body, their gear budget or their trip.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • Julien De Rosa | Afp | Getty Images Firefighters stand by their vehicle as the battle a forest fire in Saint-Jean-d’Illac, some 30km from Bordeaux, on July 26, 2026 as a wildfire has been ravaging the forest north of the Arcachon Basin (Gironde).
    Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 27 July 2026
  • France’s interior minister, Laurent Nunez, said the wildfire ravaging large swaths of southwestern France was heading toward the city of Bordeaux.
    Caroline Blumberg, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
Verb
  • Despite being identified decades ago, the exact trigger of the joint-demolishing condition is still unclear.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
  • At least one person was arrested for trespassing in connection with an earlier protest to stop contractors from demolishing the other trees.
    Michael Loria, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Lionel Messi has donated €80,000 ($92,200) to the reconstruction efforts of Madrid’s Sierra Oeste region following devastating wildfires in the area.
    Dan Kilpatrick, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities in Washington have arrested a man for arson in connection with one of the major wildfires devastating the eastern part of the state, which has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced tens of thousands to flee.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Anna’s colleague Noa Toussaint (CCH Pounder) follows with a video of Max coercing his mistress into suicide, shattering the narrative that bought his freedom.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026
  • Twenty-nine single-family homes sold for $30 million or more in Miami-Dade in 2025, shattering the previous record of 15 homes in 2024.
    Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Morton kosher salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring often and smashing fruit with a wooden spoon or heatproof rubber spatula, until plums are broken up and mixture thickens to a jammy consistency, 10–15 minutes.
    Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond Medic's smashing victory in the main event, a few fighters made significant statements.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ruining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruining. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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