ruins,the remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair or a state of decay: We visited the ruins of ancient Greece.
a destroyed or decayed building, town, etc.
a fallen, wrecked, or decayed condition: The building fell to ruin.
the downfall, decay, or destruction of anything.
the complete loss of health, means, position, hope, or the like.
something that causes a downfall or destruction; blight: Alcohol was his ruin.
the downfall of a person; undoing: the ruin of Oedipus.
a person as the wreck of his or her former self; ravaged individual.
the act of causing destruction or a downfall.
verb (used with object)
to reduce to ruin; devastate.
to bring (a person, company, etc.) to financial ruin; bankrupt.
to damage, spoil, or injure (a thing) irretrievably: Not only was the burned stew inedible, but I had absolutely ruined one of my favorite pots.
to induce (a woman) to surrender her virginity; deflower.
verb (used without object)
to fall into ruins; fall to pieces.
to come to ruin.
Origin of ruin
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English noun rueyne, ruyen, from Middle French ruwine, from Latin ruīna “headlong rush, fall, collapse,” equivalent to ruere “to fall” + -īna feminine singular of suffix -īnus ; verb ruyn, ruine, from Middle French ruyner, ruiner or directly from Medieval Latin ruīnāre, derivative of Latin ruīna; see -ine2
SYNONYMS FOR ruin
4 fall, overthrow, defeat, wreck.
10 demolish, destroy, damage.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ruin ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR ruin
4 construction, creation.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR ruin ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for ruin
3. Ruin,destruction,havoc imply irrevocable and often widespread damage. Destruction may be on a large or small scale ( destruction of tissue, of enemy vessels ); it emphasizes particularly the act of destroying, while ruin and havoc emphasize the resultant state. Ruin, from the verb meaning to fall to pieces, suggests a state of decay or disintegration (or an object in that state) that is apt to be more the result of the natural processes of time and change than of sudden violent activity from without: The house has fallen to ruins. Only in its figurative application is it apt to suggest the result of destruction from without: the ruin of her hopes.Havoc, originally a cry that served as the signal for pillaging, has changed its reference from that of spoliation to devastation, being used particularly of the destruction following in the wake of natural calamities: the havoc wrought by flood and pestilence. Today it is used figuratively to refer to the destruction of hopes and plans: This sudden turn of events played havoc with her carefully laid designs.10. See spoil.
I often point out how the ancient ruins are becoming more visible, but the girls couldn’t care less.
Investors look to buck a four-week losing streak, sending global stocks higher|Bernhard Warner|September 28, 2020|Fortune
As I stood and stared at the vast ruins before me, I pressed play on my phone and found myself even more deeply transported.
Travel Back in Time at Mesa Verde|Emily Pennington|September 27, 2020|Outside Online
The Fed doesn’t seem very interested in explaining why, for example, a country as rich as ours has so many people just one step away from financial ruin — as Mary Daly’s own family was.
Fed Up (Ep. 390)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 26, 2019|Freakonomics
No, you are going to ruin any chance you have and give us a bad name.
The Resurrection of Kristen Stewart|Marlow Stern|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As the abuse escalated, the abusive boyfriend threatened to ruin her career.
Harsh Truths About Domestic Violence: Why Voicing Terrible Experiences Can Help Others|Lizzie Crocker|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is, in fact, because it did not ruin her career that Perry has been indicted.
What the Hell Just Happened in Texas, and Why Was Rick Perry Just Indicted?|Olivia Nuzzi|August 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Her arms strapped back, Lehmberg tells the officials “this erratic behavior is going to ruin my career.”
What the Hell Just Happened in Texas, and Why Was Rick Perry Just Indicted?|Olivia Nuzzi|August 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Knowing the bigger ending—that the world is going to end at the end no matter what—might ruin the tension for the reader.
What Would You Do if the World Was Over?|William O’Connor|August 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“That is it which shall work my ruin,” saith Edith, a-laughing.
Joyce Morrell's Harvest|Emily Sarah Holt
If this evil be masturbation, then they are on the direct road to ruin, as will be seen described further on.
Plain Talks on Avoided Subjects|Henry Newell Guernsey
All is not gold that glitters; and many a fine lad has been led to his ruin ere now by following some headlong fancy of his own.
Tom Tufton's Travels|Evelyn Everett-Green
There is no truth in the story that the Austrians neglected his education and connived at the ruin of his faculties.
Memoirs of Napoleon Bonaparte, Complete|Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne
I think you ought to be allowed to ruin yourself and accelerate the revolution in any absurd way which may seem best to you.
A House-Party|Ouida
British Dictionary definitions for ruin
ruin
/ (ˈruːɪn) /
noun
destroyed or decayed building or town
the state or condition of being destroyed or decayed
loss of wealth, position, etc, or something that causes such loss; downfall
something that is severely damagedhis life was a ruin
a person who has suffered a downfall, bankruptcy, etc
loss of value or usefulness
archaicloss of her virginity by a woman outside marriage
verb
(tr)to bring to ruin; destroy
(tr)to injure or spoilthe town has been ruined with tower blocks
(intr)archaic, orpoeticto fall into ruins; collapse
Derived forms of ruin
ruinable, adjectiveruiner, noun
Word Origin for ruin
C14: from Old French ruine, from Latin ruīna a falling down, from ruere to fall violently