ruin
1 of 2verb
ru·in ˈrü-ən 
-ˌin;
ˈrün
ruined ˈrü-ənd
-ˌind;
ˈründ,
dialectal
ˈrü-ənt -ˌint;
ˈrünt
; ruining; ruins transitive verb
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
3
: to reduce to ruins : devastate
intransitive verb
: to become ruined
ruiner noun
ruin
2 of 2noun
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 templethe ruins of his life
2
: a ruined building, person, or object
3
a
: the action of destroying, laying waste, or wrecking
b
: damage, injury
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
Synonyms
Verb
- bankrupt
- break
- bust
Noun
- annihilation
- decimation
- demolishment
- demolition
- desolation
- destruction
- devastation
- extermination
- extinction
- havoc
- loss
- mincemeat
- obliteration
- ruination
- wastage
- wreckage
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2022 But high winds threatened to ruin the fun for some residents grappling with power outages. Lauren Wethington, Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2022 Why do users continue to participate in a trend that has the potential to ruin their day — or at the very least, roast them? Daisy Maldonado, Allure, 28 Feb. 2022 Elliott navigated his way back through the field and right onto Harvick's bumper — perfect position to ruin another day for Harvick. Jenna Fryer, orlandosentinel.com, 11 Oct. 2021 In the reboot, Milo invites Zoya to his home (see also: lair) and offers to ruin her sister Julian's (Jordan Alexander) life for her with a quick internet deep dive and a bit of light hacking. Leah Marilla Thomas, refinery29.com, 1 Aug. 2021 As if Outlook needed one more useless thing to ruin my day. Allison Morrow, CNN, 15 July 2021 Cramming the mattress into a car, SUV, or even a pickup truck can ruin it if bent. Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2022 But of course, flooding rain can ruin agriculture, infrastructure and lives. F. Martin Ralph, Scientific American, 19 Aug. 2022 Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2022 That ended in ruin, as most trips to Eugene have this millennium. Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 After months of war and the financial strain of Russia’s Black Sea blockade, a decision to let the wheat go could mean financial ruin. Dalton Bennett, Washington Post, 19 July 2022 After months of war and the financial strain of Russia’s Black Sea blockade, a decision to let the wheat go could mean financial ruin. Dalton Bennett, Anchorage Daily News, 19 July 2022 The upturn in business for the casinos contrasts sharply with the reality of Atlantic City, which has been struggling to emerge from near financial ruin since 2016, when New Jersey imposed a state takeover. Alison Burdo, ProPublica, 2 June 2022 In this humanist film, which is as warm as an open fire on Christmas day, Jimmy Stewart plays the selfless George Bailey, who faces financial ruin and contemplates suicide in order to save his family. Hilary Weaver, ELLE, 1 June 2022 The uptick of this content will predictably result in yet more people being tricked into sending money to scammers or disclosing financial information, leading to identity theft and financial ruin. Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 18 May 2022 It is said the red demon appeared to the city’s founder, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, who suffered financial ruin soon afterward. Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2022 See More
Verb
One taste might ruin you for all other Portland taquitos. oregonlive, 15 Sep. 2022 But high winds threatened to ruin the fun for some residents grappling with power outages. Lauren Wethington, Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2022 Why do users continue to participate in a trend that has the potential to ruin their day — or at the very least, roast them? Daisy Maldonado, Allure, 28 Feb. 2022 Elliott navigated his way back through the field and right onto Harvick's bumper — perfect position to ruin another day for Harvick. Jenna Fryer, orlandosentinel.com, 11 Oct. 2021 In the reboot, Milo invites Zoya to his home (see also: lair) and offers to ruin her sister Julian's (Jordan Alexander) life for her with a quick internet deep dive and a bit of light hacking. Leah Marilla Thomas, refinery29.com, 1 Aug. 2021 As if Outlook needed one more useless thing to ruin my day. Allison Morrow, CNN, 15 July 2021 Cramming the mattress into a car, SUV, or even a pickup truck can ruin it if bent. Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Aug. 2022 But of course, flooding rain can ruin agriculture, infrastructure and lives. F. Martin Ralph, Scientific American, 19 Aug. 2022 Noun
Eventually, that backdrop transformed into an apocalyptic cityscape, destroyed by unknown forces and left in ruin. Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2022 That ended in ruin, as most trips to Eugene have this millennium. Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 After months of war and the financial strain of Russia’s Black Sea blockade, a decision to let the wheat go could mean financial ruin. Dalton Bennett, Washington Post, 19 July 2022 After months of war and the financial strain of Russia’s Black Sea blockade, a decision to let the wheat go could mean financial ruin. Dalton Bennett, Anchorage Daily News, 19 July 2022 The upturn in business for the casinos contrasts sharply with the reality of Atlantic City, which has been struggling to emerge from near financial ruin since 2016, when New Jersey imposed a state takeover. Alison Burdo, ProPublica, 2 June 2022 In this humanist film, which is as warm as an open fire on Christmas day, Jimmy Stewart plays the selfless George Bailey, who faces financial ruin and contemplates suicide in order to save his family. Hilary Weaver, ELLE, 1 June 2022 The uptick of this content will predictably result in yet more people being tricked into sending money to scammers or disclosing financial information, leading to identity theft and financial ruin. Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 18 May 2022 It is said the red demon appeared to the city’s founder, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, who suffered financial ruin soon afterward. Duante Beddingfield, Detroit Free Press, 16 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English ruine, from Anglo-French, from Latin ruina, from ruere to rush headlong, fall, collapse
First Known Use
Verb
1572, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3
Noun
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4b
Phrases Containing ruin
Kids Definition
ruin 1 of 2
verb
ru·in ˈrü-ən
ruined; ruining
1
: to reduce to wreckage
a ruined city
2
: to damage beyond repair
… "she's … ruined every scrap of clothes she owns." Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved
Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved3
: to have a very bad effect on the quality of (something)
Losing my wallet ruined the trip.
4
: bankrupt entry 2
ruin
2 of 2noun
1
: complete collapse or destruction
2
ruins plural : the remains of something destroyed
the ruins of an ancient city
3
: the situation in which someone experiences loss of money, social status, or position
They were on the brink of financial ruin.
ruin 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to bankrupt
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
- bankrupt
- break
- reduce
- bust
- impoverish
- pauperize
- beggar
- wipe out
- straiten
- clean (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- enrich
- richen
2
as in to destroy
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action tornadoes ruined a wide swath of the county Synonyms & Similar Words
- destroy
- ravage
- devastate
- wreck
- scourge
- plunder
- obliterate
- overwhelm
- despoil
- shatter
- desolate
- eradicate
- wrack
- pillage
- waste
- annihilate
- sack
- decimate
- loot
- strip
- wipe out
- harry
- demolish
- vaporize
- expunge
- extirpate
- extinguish
- foray
- total
- nuke
- smash
- overpower
- overthrow
- raze
- mow
- maraud
- overrun
- rub out
- crush
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- restore
- recover
- rehabilitate
- redeem
- fix
- repair
- patch
- recondition
- mend
- revamp
3
as in to wreck
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
- destroy
- wreck
- devastate
- shatter
- demolish
- damage
- smash
- waste
- overcome
- mar
- erode
- decimate
- annihilate
- wrack
- ravage
- total
- cripple
- desolate
- extinguish
- raze
- vaporize
- tear down
- pulverize
- nuke
- spoil
- kill
- pull down
- defeat
- cream
- crush
- break
- dismantle
- injure
- harm
- blast
- best
- impair
- rub out
- remove
- disintegrate
- deteriorate
- subdue
- disfigure
- conquer
- do in
- master
- vitiate
- lick
- obliterate
- mutilate
- deface
- eradicate
- rout
- dynamite
- clobber
- dissolve
- trim
- surmount
- havoc
- undo
- trounce
- mangle
- scotch
- whip
- despoil
- plunder
- overbear
- assassinate
- blow up
- thrash
- unmake
- slaughter
- wallop
- dilapidate
- wash out
- gut
- beat
- sack
- wipe out
- murder
- skunk
- scour
- exterminate
- expunge
- extirpate
- trample
- take down
- disassemble
- pillage
- blot out
- loot
- efface
- overmatch
- liquidate
- fell
- slay
- cut down
- vandalize
- trash
- drub
- massacre
- kill off
- prevail (over)
- unbuild
- triumph (over)
- zap
- win (against)
- sweep (away)
- take out
- butcher
- execute
- dispatch
- wear (away)
- snuff (out)
- mow (down)
- stamp (out)
- root (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- build
- construct
- create
- raise
- repair
- fix
- rear
- make
- erect
- protect
- patch
- set up
- save
- produce
- mend
- preserve
- shape
- form
- invent
- manufacture
- constitute
- establish
- forge
- found
- assemble
- revamp
- mold
- restore
- organize
- bring about
- rebuild
- fashion
- institute
- fabricate
- frame
- conserve
- recondition
- put up
- reconstruct
- doctor
- father
- renovate
- remodel
ruin
2 of 2noun
1
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless a vicious bombardment that left the building in ruins Synonyms & Similar Words
- destruction
- havoc
- devastation
- extinction
- demolition
- loss
- ruination
- extermination
- annihilation
- obliteration
- wastage
- decimation
- collapse
- demolishment
- wreckage
- desolation
- disintegration
- mincemeat
- slaughter
- breakup
- depredation
- despoilment
- killing
- massacre
- despoliation
- dissolution
- execution
- assassination
- dismantlement
- eradication
- effacement
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- building
- construction
- saving
- salvage
- rescue
- erection
- salvation
- raising
- protection
- preservation
- restoration
- conservation
- reclamation
- reconstruction
- remodeling
- renovation
- refurbishment
- regeneracy
- re-creation
2
as in wreck
ruins plural the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed the ruins of an abandoned abbey Synonyms & Similar Words
- wreck
- remains
- wreckage
- ashes
- remnant
- rubble
- detritus
- debris
- residue
- flotsam
- refuse
- dust
- junk
- garbage
- waste
- leavings
- rubbish
- deadwood
- scrap
- trash
- litter
- chaff
- jetsam
- dross
- riffraff
3
as in bankruptcy
the inability to pay one's debts the family faces ruin if the chief breadwinner doesn't find another job very soon Synonyms & Similar Words
- bankruptcy
- failure
- insolvency
- Chapter 11
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- solvency
4
as in downfall
something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life the politician's eventual ruin would be a sexual indiscretion Synonyms & Similar Words
- downfall
- ruination
- destruction
- undoing
- curse
- death
- kiss of death
- bane
- torment
- tragic flaw
- Achilles' heel
- five hundred
- five hundred rum
- five hundred rummy
- five of a kind
- five-and-dime
- five-and-dimes
- five-and-ten
- five-and-tens
- five-card stud
- five-centered arch
- five-corners
- five-corns
- five-day week
- five-eighth
- five-eighths
- five-em space
- five-figure
- five-finger
- five-fingered creeper
- five-fingered ivy
- five-fingered Jack
- five-fingered root
- five-flowered gentian
- five-hole
- five-leaf