1
as in bankrupts
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ravages
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
tornadoes ruined a wide swath of the county
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in destroys
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
as in rubble
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
the ruins of an abandoned abbey
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruins
Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
What to do in Split Split is a diverse blend of ancient and modern life, where Roman ruins stand alongside modern cafés and a bustling harbor.
—Chris Dong, AFAR Media, 9 Oct. 2025
Nothing ruins a trip faster than your suitcase not showing up at baggage claim, right?
—Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
The whole image is a set of geometric elements receding precisely, which either or both ruins or/and enhances a little of the painting’s magic for me.
—Kate Colby
october 2, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
At least four people were killed and eight wounded, and authorities were searching the building ruins for more victims.
—Isabella Volmert, Twin Cities, 29 Sep. 2025
The chocolate ruins their appearance and also their taste.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
This bike is meant to move, whether to speed through a commute, push an exercise ride a bit farther, or tackle that one hill that ruins your otherwise enjoyable route.
—Kevin Purdy, ArsTechnica, 20 Sep. 2025
When shoe stink ruins a perfectly good rack.
—New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Teenagers can only take so many historical facts or visits to ancient ruins and notable churches.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Those are only the deceased who could be found and identified – at least 10,000 people are buried in the ruins, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense, whose teams are sifting through millions of tons of rubble and thousands of unexploded Israeli munitions among it.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
At the very southern end of the Netherlands just outside Maastricht is the Velvet Cave, an 11th- or 12th-century network of underground passages beneath the ruins of Valkenburg Castle.
—Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 18 Oct. 2025
Archaeologists have been studying the ruins of Karnak for a century and a half, but the origins of the temple have remained unknown.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
Initial examinations of the ruins reveal that the site experienced several distinct stages of construction and growth.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
The enclave lies in ruins, and a vast majority of the population lives without adequate access to shelter and medical care.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
Their existence ended with a mysterious collapse, leaving behind ruins of their cities in Guatemala's northernmost corner.
—ABC News, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
There are heated confrontations and a slap, and Alma ruins her shot at tenure after stealing a colleague's prescription pad to get more pain meds.
—Gerrad Hall, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
What to do in Split Split is a diverse blend of ancient and modern life, where Roman ruins stand alongside modern cafés and a bustling harbor.
—Chris Dong, AFAR Media, 9 Oct. 2025
Nothing ruins a trip faster than your suitcase not showing up at baggage claim, right?
—Emily Belfiore, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025
The whole image is a set of geometric elements receding precisely, which either or both ruins or/and enhances a little of the painting’s magic for me.
—Kate Colby
october 2, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2025
At least four people were killed and eight wounded, and authorities were searching the building ruins for more victims.
—Isabella Volmert, Twin Cities, 29 Sep. 2025
The chocolate ruins their appearance and also their taste.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
This bike is meant to move, whether to speed through a commute, push an exercise ride a bit farther, or tackle that one hill that ruins your otherwise enjoyable route.
—Kevin Purdy, ArsTechnica, 20 Sep. 2025
When shoe stink ruins a perfectly good rack.
—New Atlas, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
Will there be future fairy tales about birds whose feathers glow in the dark nesting in the ruins of primitive power plants of past ages?
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Teenagers can only take so many historical facts or visits to ancient ruins and notable churches.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Those are only the deceased who could be found and identified – at least 10,000 people are buried in the ruins, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense, whose teams are sifting through millions of tons of rubble and thousands of unexploded Israeli munitions among it.
—Kara Fox, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
At the very southern end of the Netherlands just outside Maastricht is the Velvet Cave, an 11th- or 12th-century network of underground passages beneath the ruins of Valkenburg Castle.
—Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 18 Oct. 2025
Archaeologists have been studying the ruins of Karnak for a century and a half, but the origins of the temple have remained unknown.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
Initial examinations of the ruins reveal that the site experienced several distinct stages of construction and growth.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
The enclave lies in ruins, and a vast majority of the population lives without adequate access to shelter and medical care.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
Their existence ended with a mysterious collapse, leaving behind ruins of their cities in Guatemala's northernmost corner.
—ABC News, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruins
Verb
-
As extreme heat ravages New York City this summer, the lives of thousands detained on Rikers Island hang in the balance.—
Darren Mack,
New York Daily News,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Each participant had lost central vision in one eye due to dry AMD, which destroys light-sensitive macular cells over time.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
-
An arson fire destroys the 43-year-old Globe Theatre on March 8 (the arsonist was never caught, but a firebug had set several blazes in the park that winter).—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Thousands are missing, their bodies presumed to be under the rubble.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The first step for Palestinians is clearing the rubble, and then getting supplies needed for reconstruction, says NPR's Greg Myre, who is in Tel Aviv.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Americans are used to thinking about automation as something that devastates factory towns in the heartland.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The novel is about three teenagers experiencing the joy and angst of their senior year in a New York City high school as the AIDS crisis devastates their community.—
Abdi Nazemian,
PEOPLE,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Messy data wrecks forecasts, distorts reporting and wastes time.—
Thasha Batts,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There’s a lot of stuff in the ocean, and marine debris tends to aggregate in the same places as does the whale sharks’ primary prey.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Next, vacuum the filter using a soft-bristle brush attachment to remove the bulk of the dust and debris buildup.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
A bit further from the wreckage was a leather purse, jacket and a small pair of brown heeled boots next to a broken and bloody plastic chair.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Lightning looms as winds threaten to push the tower over, but somehow the rescue team frees him from the wreckage to safety.—
Bryan West,
Nashville Tennessean,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruins. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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