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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in destroying
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 wrecking
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 ruining
Historically, barrels of Madeira spent months crossing tropical oceans aboard ships, and merchants realized that the heat actually improved the wine rather than ruining it.
—
Emily Price, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
The antics each week involved lovable Gilligan ruining a plan to get the gang rescued, but also ogling the bombshell Ginger (Tina Louise) and getting annoyed by Thurston Howell III (Jim Backus).
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
Disposable shower caps are a great way to cover muddy, dirty shoes and prevent them from ruining your clean clothes.
—Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026
Two runners scored, ruining Tech ace Nijaree Canady’s shutout.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 5 June 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers are ruining baseball.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Undefeated this season on clay, the 15th-seeded Ukrainian player reached the quarterfinals at the French Open for the first time on Sunday by taking out four-time champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 and ruining her birthday.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
Here's how to identify black spot and prevent it from ruining your roses.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026
In her response, Hajdini cast Rana as manipulative and deceitful, intent on ruining her life and besmirching her employer through his sensational accusations.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Emily Price, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
The antics each week involved lovable Gilligan ruining a plan to get the gang rescued, but also ogling the bombshell Ginger (Tina Louise) and getting annoyed by Thurston Howell III (Jim Backus).
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
Disposable shower caps are a great way to cover muddy, dirty shoes and prevent them from ruining your clean clothes.
—Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026
Two runners scored, ruining Tech ace Nijaree Canady’s shutout.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 5 June 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers are ruining baseball.
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Undefeated this season on clay, the 15th-seeded Ukrainian player reached the quarterfinals at the French Open for the first time on Sunday by taking out four-time champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 and ruining her birthday.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
Here's how to identify black spot and prevent it from ruining your roses.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026
In her response, Hajdini cast Rana as manipulative and deceitful, intent on ruining her life and besmirching her employer through his sensational accusations.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruining
Verb
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Character also involves standing up to people who are bankrupting and corrupting this country.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
-
Among its many distinctions, SPLC is known for bankrupting the Ku Klux Klan.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Strikes and artillery fire were reported across Nabatieh district, destroying homes and residential buildings, according to NNA.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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One video shows a surface to air missile hitting a drone but not destroying it; the drone crashes to the ground and explodes.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
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What is in tandem here is the exuberantly generative possibility of life itself (SCOBY, water) alongside the very synthetic polymers that are literally wrecking life on an individual and systemic level.—
Eugenie Brinkema,
ARTnews.com,
14 June 2026
-
Belt-Stubblefield did not stop and ended up wrecking his car.—
Michael Abeyta,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Temperatures have risen in oceans faster due to climate change, super-charging storms and drought, ravaging coral reefs across the world, and endangering species in tandem with overfishing and industrial pollution.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
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And with injuries ravaging Canada’s back line, Sigur has the quality to quickly become an important part of their World Cup.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Indeed, many media observers—inside and outside the network—have gone so far as to suggest that demolishing the status quo seems to be central to Weiss’s mandate.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
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In February 2024, police gave him and his wife minutes to pack before demolishing their home.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
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But Saeta, which has been outfitting the team since coming to its rescue after the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake, has been struggling to keep up with demands, creating an opening for designers and other vendors selling unofficial merchandise.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
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The British government refused to subsidize food prices or restrict exports of Irish agricultural goods, further devastating the island.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
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People in the crowd also took bats to five NYPD vehicles and jumped on them, shattering front and back windows, officials said.—
Mark Prussin,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
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Videos online showed Knicks fans stomping on Citi Bikes, climbing street lamps, shattering windows and attacking taxi cabs.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2026
Verb
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One video appeared to show two people jumping onto the roof of an NYPD vehicle and smashing its windshield.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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Yes to hugging and high-fiving a stranger; no to tearing down a lamppost and smashing a cop car.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruining. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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