1
a
: to damage irreparably
b
: bankrupt, impoverish
ruined by stock speculation
2
: to subject to frustration, failure, or disaster
will ruin your chances of promotion
: to become ruined
ruiner
noun
1
a
: the state of being ruined
—archaic except in plural
the city lay in ruins
b
: the remains of something destroyed
—usually used in plural
the ruins of an ancient temple
the ruins of his life
2
: a ruined building, person, or object
4
a
: physical, moral, economic, or social collapse
b
archaic
: a falling down : collapse
from age to age … the crash of ruin fitfully resounds—
William Wordsworth
William Wordsworth5
: a cause of destruction
Examples of ruin in a Sentence
Verb
The bad weather ruined the party.
I ruined the sauce by adding too much garlic.
His low test scores ruined his chances of getting into a good school.
Poor customer service ruined the company's reputation.
He was ruined by debt.
The scandal ruined the mayor.
Noun
The incident led to the ruin of their relationship.
The abandoned town had gone to ruin.
Don't let the house your grandfather built fall into ruin.
The castle is now a ruin.
The drought brought economic ruin to local farmers.
Her drug addiction brought her to the brink of ruin.
Recent Examples on the Web
Olivia Lloyd
july 9, Miami Herald, 9 July 2025
Sophisticated travelers can savor world-class dining, from rich Hakata ramen to the most delicious gyoza, or explore modern art, castle ruins, and shops run by local artisans.
—Mark Lakin, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2025
Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 10 July 2025
But the type of city varied: ancient sites famed for their historic ruins—such as Luxor in Egypt and Petra in Jordan—feature alongside modern metropolises like Dubai to Doha.
—Heather Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruin
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
—Olivia Lloyd
july 9, Miami Herald, 9 July 2025
Sophisticated travelers can savor world-class dining, from rich Hakata ramen to the most delicious gyoza, or explore modern art, castle ruins, and shops run by local artisans.
—Mark Lakin, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2025
Noun
Every wreck, every ruin is the relic of a shriveled dream, lasting long after the body of its dreamer has been received back into the earth with love or remorse or indifference.
—Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 10 July 2025
But the type of city varied: ancient sites famed for their historic ruins—such as Luxor in Egypt and Petra in Jordan—feature alongside modern metropolises like Dubai to Doha.
—Heather Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruin
Cite this Entry
“Ruin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruin. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ruin
1 of 2 noun
ru·in
ˈrü-ən 
-ˌin
1
: complete collapse or destruction
2
: the remains of something destroyed
—usually used in plural
the ruins of a city
ruin
2 of 2 verb1
: to reduce to ruins
2
a
: to damage beyond repair
b
ruiner
noun
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