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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruining
And thanks to their merino wool blend—helpful for moisture control and odor resistance—I did’t have to worry about ruining good shoes with gross foot sweat.
—
Christa Sgobba, Glamour, 31 Mar. 2026
The young Wolverines had already taken their leave with figurative Texas tread marks ruining their silky white, maize and blue uniforms.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 31 Mar. 2026
Accused of ruining baseball with their big-spending ways the past two years, the noise has only gotten louder as a labor showdown looms.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
To figure out its mechanism, Julius’s team had to somehow extract it from cells without ruining the very properties the researchers were trying to understand.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 25 Mar. 2026
Now, months later, residents say the gunfire has shattered their peace, ruining quiet strolls and sunsets on the neighborhood’s lakes.
—Christopher Spata, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
Causing economic destruction with ridiculous lockdowns, ruining lives and livelihoods…that wasn't enough?
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Nothing will ever undo the original sin, and devoting your life to ruining someone else’s is a loss for both of you.
—Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
The president, who admits this all could be challenged in court, urged the panel to back the SCORE Act, which would preempt state regulation of NIL payments, which the Commander in Chief says are especially ruining women’s sports.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Christa Sgobba, Glamour, 31 Mar. 2026
The young Wolverines had already taken their leave with figurative Texas tread marks ruining their silky white, maize and blue uniforms.
—Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 31 Mar. 2026
Accused of ruining baseball with their big-spending ways the past two years, the noise has only gotten louder as a labor showdown looms.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 29 Mar. 2026
To figure out its mechanism, Julius’s team had to somehow extract it from cells without ruining the very properties the researchers were trying to understand.
—Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 25 Mar. 2026
Now, months later, residents say the gunfire has shattered their peace, ruining quiet strolls and sunsets on the neighborhood’s lakes.
—Christopher Spata, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
Causing economic destruction with ridiculous lockdowns, ruining lives and livelihoods…that wasn't enough?
—Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Nothing will ever undo the original sin, and devoting your life to ruining someone else’s is a loss for both of you.
—Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
The president, who admits this all could be challenged in court, urged the panel to back the SCORE Act, which would preempt state regulation of NIL payments, which the Commander in Chief says are especially ruining women’s sports.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruining
Verb
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Analyses show the experiment succeeded at expanding access and controlling costs without bankrupting health systems or pharmaceutical firms.—
Michael Rose,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
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But the question of how to get landlords to deliver this housing without bankrupting their buildings matters just as much.—
Michael Powell,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Will Trump adopt Putin-style tactics by destroying power plants or even desalination plants in what could amount to an attack on the beleaguered Iranian people themselves?—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In the weeks since, fears of a long-term occupation of southern Lebanon have grown, with Israel moving to establish a buffer zone in the area, leveling homes and destroying bridges over the Litani River, which connects the south to the rest of Lebanon, while taking control of what crossings remain.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But here’s the thing — ignoring your gutters is one of the fastest ways to turn a free weekend project into a budget-wrecking emergency repair.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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This might drive like a dirt race, giving Reddick, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell a chance to shine as their cars are on the verge of wrecking.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In this alternate past, a fatal blood virus, known informally as the Red Wind, has been ravaging the population for about a decade.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
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Because the nerves were already ravaging his poise.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Plans call for demolishing the three-story former office building on the site and constructing a single-story, 30-foot-tall building containing approximately 26,000 square feet of event space, according to information shared by the village.—
Jennifer Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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The city’s long-term plan calls for demolishing the existing facility and replacing it with a new permanent building.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For this woman, devastating in her humanity and dignity throughout the four months of the extraordinary trial, who was propelled into becoming a global icon in the fight against the violence done to women, the time has now come to rebuild.—
TIME,
Time,
7 Apr. 2026
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Our team found that a hospital cyberattack cut the odds of surviving a cardiac arrest without devastating brain damage by nearly 90% at nearby hospitals, not just the one that was attacked.—
Jeffrey Tully,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But customers should not expect earth-shattering menu changes.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
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With large hailstones capable of shattering windshields and denting vehicles, meteorologists are urging residents to move cars into garages, covered parking areas or sheltered spots.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Maces, which were little more than rocks mounted on sticks, had questionable value as hunting tools, but they were superbly suited for smashing the bones and skulls of other humans.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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Charging forward, Tuanzebe met the ball as its arc fell just in front of the goal, smashing it for a 1-0 lead.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruining. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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