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
Most homeowners are surprised to learn the buzzing nuisance ruining their evenings probably started life just steps from the back door.
—
Ryan Brennan
april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Matt Olson hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Kenley Jansen, ruining a dominant performance by Tarik Skubal and rallying the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
Husband’s long list of demands is already ruining a trip the letter writer has spent his whole life dreaming about.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2026
Additionally, wet windows can accumulate condensation overnight, potentially ruining your hard work.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2026
These tenacious insects discreetly land on your skin, leaving sudden, itchy, and painful bites that can swell and turn red, ruining a perfectly pleasant outdoor evening.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 18 Apr. 2026
While the couple was able to laugh it off in the moment, the majority of comments on TikTok were negative, with people accusing Zach of being an attention-seeker and ruining the wedding.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Keep mosquitoes from ruining the vibe in your backyard living room with this set of two citronella-scented candles.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Taking a character off of TV’s hottest comedy at the time would leave a gaping hole, or risk ruining a side character who couldn’t hold a show of their own.
—Jennifer Armstrong, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
Ryan Brennan
april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Matt Olson hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Kenley Jansen, ruining a dominant performance by Tarik Skubal and rallying the Atlanta Braves to a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.
—ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
Husband’s long list of demands is already ruining a trip the letter writer has spent his whole life dreaming about.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2026
Additionally, wet windows can accumulate condensation overnight, potentially ruining your hard work.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2026
These tenacious insects discreetly land on your skin, leaving sudden, itchy, and painful bites that can swell and turn red, ruining a perfectly pleasant outdoor evening.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 18 Apr. 2026
While the couple was able to laugh it off in the moment, the majority of comments on TikTok were negative, with people accusing Zach of being an attention-seeker and ruining the wedding.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Keep mosquitoes from ruining the vibe in your backyard living room with this set of two citronella-scented candles.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Taking a character off of TV’s hottest comedy at the time would leave a gaping hole, or risk ruining a side character who couldn’t hold a show of their own.
—Jennifer Armstrong, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruining
Verb
-
Among its many distinctions, SPLC is known for bankrupting the Ku Klux Klan.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Aryan Nations case in 2000 delivered a similar outcome for the Keenans, effectively bankrupting Aryan Nations and Butler, one of the nation’s most influential hate proliferators.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the team's binary merger model, the compact object is close enough to its stellar companion to rip off its outer hydrogen layer without completely destroying the star.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
-
The fires hit close to home, destroying both Pratt’s Pacific Palisades residence and his parents’ home.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The Bills will head into the season without a true, identifiable game-wrecking defensive player on the roster.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
The animal begins wrecking the fields and terrorizing the people.—
Perin Gürel,
The Conversation,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With disease ravaging Earth, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) leads a group of astronauts out on an incredibly dangerous mission through a wormhole on a last-ditch attempt at finding somewhere else to live.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
The Thunder dug in their heels through two Game 7s, a title run and a season of ravaging injury luck.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Many family members are opposed to demolishing and/or selling the property.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
8 May 2026
-
The Preakness is taking place at Laurel Park between Baltimore and Washington this spring while its longtime home, Pimlico Race Course, is rebuilt as part of a massive construction project that included demolishing the debilitating old structure.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
House Republicans approved the resolution last month despite conservationists’ warnings that the move would lead to devastating pollution in one of the country’s last remaining wild areas.—
Todd Richmond,
Twin Cities,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Two tornadoes ripped through west Michigan on April 14, devastating a family dairy farm in Fenick, releasing hundreds of cows and leaving thousands without power.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On April 12, Péter Magyar of the Tisza party won by a landslide, altering the course of Hungary’s history and shattering voter turnout records.—
Alexandra Levy,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
Meyer still brokers earth-shattering private deals, but for the last decade, he’s been sorting through Si’s deep collection.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
While the fat purple hairs are busy screaming on Bluesky, Danica is out smashing forehands looking chiseled.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
-
Shake hands with yourself, smashing and stretching the butter.—
Karla Walsh,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruining. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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