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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ruins
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
No matter how beautiful your kitchen is, grime on your appliances immediately ruins its look.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2025
When that happens, 67% of teens say their malfunctioning laptop ruins their entire day.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025
One mistake often ruins an entire load, sending recyclables straight to landfills.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Liz Schubauer, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
The colt doesn’t know the racetrack he was bred for – the pride of Ruidoso – lies in ruins for the second year running, gutted by floodwaters that turned familiar dirt into a sucking bog of mud.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
There are several key sites to explore, like Le Castella, an imposing Medieval fortress on the sea; Santa Severina’s Byzantine architecture and Norman Castle; and Capo Colonna Archaeological Park, known for its Greek and Roman temples and ruins.
—Gary Portuesi, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
The traditional ruins of Mary’s house in Sepphoris are on the south side of the city, also facing Nazareth.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Swim in a secluded bay, check out ruins, and wander olive groves.
—AFAR Media, 26 Sep. 2025
From Athens' historic ruins to the shimmering skyscrapers of New York City, global inspiration has been turned into towering confections worthy of a wedding.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
No matter how beautiful your kitchen is, grime on your appliances immediately ruins its look.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2025
When that happens, 67% of teens say their malfunctioning laptop ruins their entire day.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025
One mistake often ruins an entire load, sending recyclables straight to landfills.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
But on that record, even the happiest songs had a kind of love-among-the-ruins feel, where the romanticism seemed hard-fought.
—Liz Schubauer, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
The colt doesn’t know the racetrack he was bred for – the pride of Ruidoso – lies in ruins for the second year running, gutted by floodwaters that turned familiar dirt into a sucking bog of mud.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
There are several key sites to explore, like Le Castella, an imposing Medieval fortress on the sea; Santa Severina’s Byzantine architecture and Norman Castle; and Capo Colonna Archaeological Park, known for its Greek and Roman temples and ruins.
—Gary Portuesi, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
The traditional ruins of Mary’s house in Sepphoris are on the south side of the city, also facing Nazareth.
—Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Swim in a secluded bay, check out ruins, and wander olive groves.
—AFAR Media, 26 Sep. 2025
From Athens' historic ruins to the shimmering skyscrapers of New York City, global inspiration has been turned into towering confections worthy of a wedding.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 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
-
These newly aware companies’ high-speed trading of financial projects destroys the Earth itself, forcing humans to flee to the margins of the solar system.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Most of the time, a person’s immune system identifies and destroys these cells.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Flow Space,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In the village outside Lviv where the family members were killed, rescue workers dug through heaps of rubble.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Although efforts continue, emergency responders say their mission has shifted from rescue to recovery after using thermal drones and other tools to search for anyone who might still be alive underneath the rubble, The New York Times reported.—
Jillian Frankel,
PEOPLE,
3 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
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Do not burn debris or other items during an air quality alert.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 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
-
There was wreckage everywhere in the immediate moments that followed a crushing 4-3 loss that will cast doubt on everything the Phillies have built here.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Firefighters removed Pelin from the elevator wreckage before transporting her to a local hospital for treatment, where she was pronounced dead.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruins. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share