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
Lewis Hamilton lost control of his Ferrari and crashed out of the Dutch Grand Prix, ruining a chance to nab a good haul of points.
—
Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Thanks, man, for ruining an almost-letter-perfect red-carpet walk.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
After inciting rage on both sides of the aisle, spurring conversations about private equity ruining fun, and generally being the internet’s main character (derogatory) for a week, the restaurant has brought back their barrel and the old man who guards it.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025
Here’s how often to wash your shoes—and how to do it without ruining them.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 25 Aug. 2025
The real victory, Henderlite argues, isn’t about ruining your ex in court but about walking away with a better life than before.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Injuries, by that point, were ruining the striker’s time at Volkswagen Arena.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
They’re protected by a waterproof membrane that reviewers say allows rain and snow to roll right off without seeping into your socks and ruining your day.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 22 Aug. 2025
Her father remarried a woman whose son bullied Jiao, ruining her nice stationery and so on.
—Zhang Yueran
august 19, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Thanks, man, for ruining an almost-letter-perfect red-carpet walk.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
After inciting rage on both sides of the aisle, spurring conversations about private equity ruining fun, and generally being the internet’s main character (derogatory) for a week, the restaurant has brought back their barrel and the old man who guards it.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2025
Here’s how often to wash your shoes—and how to do it without ruining them.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 25 Aug. 2025
The real victory, Henderlite argues, isn’t about ruining your ex in court but about walking away with a better life than before.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
Injuries, by that point, were ruining the striker’s time at Volkswagen Arena.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
They’re protected by a waterproof membrane that reviewers say allows rain and snow to roll right off without seeping into your socks and ruining your day.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 22 Aug. 2025
Her father remarried a woman whose son bullied Jiao, ruining her nice stationery and so on.
—Zhang Yueran
august 19, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruining
Verb
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See video … WATCH TOM HOMAN – With a secure border, the US is bankrupting cartels.—
,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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Yet either change could risk bankrupting the program.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
3 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The two initial quakes flattened villages in both provinces, destroying more than 6,700 homes, and rescue workers pulled bodies from the rubble on Thursday.—
Mohammad Yunus Yawar,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
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As Greengrass was editing the picture, wildfires tore through the Pacific Palisades and Altadena in Southern California, killing residents and destroying homes.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The sophomore, who is the youngest player ever voted captain under coach Jay Norvell, was a one-man wrecking crew against the Huskies with a game-high 13 tackles.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
5 Sep. 2025
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For 25 years, Chavism has co-opted Venezuela's infrastructure for its own enrichment, persecuting journalists and opposition, wrecking the economy, and leaving its citizens in poverty.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But on an evening back in July, inordinate rainfall led to unrelenting floodwaters ravaging the lower level of Pledger’s home.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
3 Sep. 2025
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Spain is deploying 500 more soldiers to fight wildfires ravaging the country, as southern Europe faces a wave of extreme climate events fueled by heatwaves.—
Tasneem Nashrulla,
semafor.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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About 90% of the former Spring Hill Mall is gone and work demolishing the final anchor store set to begin in the next couple of weeks, officials said.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
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After filing the first lawsuit, attorney Katie Steele of Varghese Summersett also sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the owners from removing or destroying tenants’ property from the units, or demolishing the building, and to preserve critical evidence in the case.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kahani’s work is of a piece with that of bigger-name compatriots like Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof in its protest against the Iranian government, though his droll-to-devastating approach is very much his own.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
21 Aug. 2025
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Additionally, deadly waves of violent extremism in places like Nigeria and India are devastating whole communities and going unchecked.—
Miles P. J. Windsor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As the table fell behind Cenat, shattering into pieces, the streamer looked behind him, cut the music, and asked his friends to fess up.—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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August made history on its own, but compared to the record-shattering extremes of 2023 and 2024, this year had fewer heat streaks.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Police, a renowned English rock band, formed in 1977, looping together Sting, Copeland and Summers for an act that rode the new wave to smashing success through the late '70s and early '80s.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
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Even the squirles are smashing their bread extra hard.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruining. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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