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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ravages
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of ruins
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2026
When fans see an exciting big hit, thinking about how the players might not know their own family members in 30 years ruins the fun.
—Eleanor M. Perfetto, STAT, 7 Feb. 2026
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins centers around a former NFL star (Morgan) who attempts to put his life back together after a gambling scandal ruins him.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
Exposure to high humidity and low temperatures can severely alter these items, which not only ruins their aesthetic beauty but also impacts their sound.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 25 Jan. 2026
However, too much acid ruins the dish.
—Lewis Schiff, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Following the adventures of the titular sheep, the franchise’s latest takes place at Mossy Bottom Farm on Halloween Eve, watching as excitement turns to dismay when the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
In fact, some of the greatest novels are about how reading ruins lives—starting with the book often considered the first modern novel, Don Quixote.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
Following an economic downturn and a devastating freeze that ruins the local citrus industry, the Sentinel and Reporter consolidate operations and become the Sentinel-Reporter.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
Here is a room filled with statues and artifacts, rescued from the ruins of Pompeii.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
Alper also makes excellent use of the mountainous landscape and the ancient ruins among which the Hazerans live.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
All across Khartoum, thousands of other families were rifling through the ruins to salvage what was left.
—Yousra Elbagir, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
Russian soldiers are constantly attempting to slip into the city's ruins unnoticed in small groups, Ukrainians who spoke to ABC News said.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
The drama is shot with a documentarian’s eye and unfolds in the ruins of an unnamed city, but its setting is far from nebulous — not least because of the presence of a few Palestinian flags.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
Explore the island by taking a tour, roaming the ruins of a former estate, or searching for shells at low tide.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
New apartment blocks rose from the ruins, but rather than going to those who lost their homes, they are sold to Russian newcomers.
—Yuras Karmanau, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
There’s, in fact, a lot of narrative chaos in the movie’s last third, from a pyramid scheme that ruins Junyang’s professional ego to the fact that Lydia, once she’s given birth, is basically cut out of the picture.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Feb. 2026
When fans see an exciting big hit, thinking about how the players might not know their own family members in 30 years ruins the fun.
—Eleanor M. Perfetto, STAT, 7 Feb. 2026
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins centers around a former NFL star (Morgan) who attempts to put his life back together after a gambling scandal ruins him.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
Exposure to high humidity and low temperatures can severely alter these items, which not only ruins their aesthetic beauty but also impacts their sound.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 25 Jan. 2026
However, too much acid ruins the dish.
—Lewis Schiff, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Following the adventures of the titular sheep, the franchise’s latest takes place at Mossy Bottom Farm on Halloween Eve, watching as excitement turns to dismay when the clumsy Farmer ruins the pumpkin patch.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
In fact, some of the greatest novels are about how reading ruins lives—starting with the book often considered the first modern novel, Don Quixote.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
Following an economic downturn and a devastating freeze that ruins the local citrus industry, the Sentinel and Reporter consolidate operations and become the Sentinel-Reporter.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2026
Noun
Compare it to Nazi Germany, which went from an empire that nearly took over the world to a heap of ruins in six years.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
Here is a room filled with statues and artifacts, rescued from the ruins of Pompeii.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
Alper also makes excellent use of the mountainous landscape and the ancient ruins among which the Hazerans live.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
All across Khartoum, thousands of other families were rifling through the ruins to salvage what was left.
—Yousra Elbagir, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
Russian soldiers are constantly attempting to slip into the city's ruins unnoticed in small groups, Ukrainians who spoke to ABC News said.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
The drama is shot with a documentarian’s eye and unfolds in the ruins of an unnamed city, but its setting is far from nebulous — not least because of the presence of a few Palestinian flags.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
Explore the island by taking a tour, roaming the ruins of a former estate, or searching for shells at low tide.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026
New apartment blocks rose from the ruins, but rather than going to those who lost their homes, they are sold to Russian newcomers.
—Yuras Karmanau, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruins
Verb
-
As of early Monday morning, nearly 150 flights at MIA had been impacted, and that's expected to increase as the winter storm ravages the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.—
February 23,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The tall green trees pop against the clear blue sky, until a wildfire ravages the forest and changes Grainger’s life.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Unfortunately, as with alcohol, gambling also destroys lives.—
Jim Nowlan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Israel routinely destroys equipment meant for reconstruction; Human Rights Watch found that Israel had destroyed more than 360 heavy machines — bulldozers, excavators, and factories producing asphalt and cement — in four different attacks in south Lebanon.—
Justin Salhani,
The Dial,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In Kharkiv, in Ukraine's northeast, emergency workers were combing the rubble, looking for survivors.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Iran’s arsenal of ballistic missiles was seriously depleted and its strategic installations left in rubble.—
Robin Wright,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kyiv residents endure long daily blackouts as Russia devastates the power system, leaving tower block dwellers freezing in apartments with no heat or light.—
Derek Gatopoulos,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Exacerbating the problem, unpredictable rainfall cycling between drought and floods further devastates the region.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The change launches biannual arguments about the practice, wrecks havoc on sleep and has inspired voters to go to California polls.—
Hannah Poukish,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
-
In a film like this, you’re ostensibly meant to root against the terror that the central characters wrecks on his victims.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Suggestions for this zone are to remove combustible items and vegetation; screen vents and fill gaps in or totally enclose eaves; and clear debris from a home’s roof, gutters and deck.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
-
In both cases, the damage seems to have stemmed from attacks on nearby ports or from falling debris from drone interceptions.—
Michael Christopher Low,
The Conversation,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The latest filing demolishes the timeworn claim that DOGE was infiltrated into Social Security in order to responsibly ferret out fraud and overspending.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
When Sneaky Snook in his mail truck happened upon the wreckage near the boundary of Meredith Downs, sheep were scattered along the roadside and the fence, bleating, dazed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The wreckage in the water had been flushed into the North Yuba River and stalled about a mile downstream at the mouth of Englebright Lake in mid-February after a ruptured pipe at New Colgate Powerhouse sent a deluge of water and hillside into the river.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruins. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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