1
as in bankrupted
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in destroyed
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 demolished
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruined
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Our family has been ruined by Denise's lies of promising to end a year-long affair.
—Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
The season is already ruined for both Ortiz, Clase, and quite possibly the Guardians, and their fans.
—Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The country-style restaurant is renowned for its homey atmosphere, which some believe would be ruined by design changes to the location.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Topa startled by knee pain Trying to close out the game, right-hander Justin Topa made a pitch in the ninth inning and felt a pain in his knee similar to the patellar tendon injury that ruined most of his 2024 season.
—David Brown, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025
To him, the field looked ruined — nothing like the stiff, proud stalks of wheat growing nearby.
—Julia Rendleman, ProPublica, 5 Sep. 2025
Helene cost him less than 10 percent of that collection, thousands of seeds ruined when his freezers lost power and frost melted.
—Lila Hempel-Edgers, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2025
Also, no one wants their magical photos ruined by scaffolding or lift trucks, so Disney specifically selects paint that will be long-lasting and durable.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
When faced with Cherry going berserk, what can Laura do but visit Cherry’s mother and learn that Cherry nearly killed her dad and ruined an ex-boyfriend’s wedding by filling his cake with raw pig parts?
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Our family has been ruined by Denise's lies of promising to end a year-long affair.
—Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
The season is already ruined for both Ortiz, Clase, and quite possibly the Guardians, and their fans.
—Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The country-style restaurant is renowned for its homey atmosphere, which some believe would be ruined by design changes to the location.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
Topa startled by knee pain Trying to close out the game, right-hander Justin Topa made a pitch in the ninth inning and felt a pain in his knee similar to the patellar tendon injury that ruined most of his 2024 season.
—David Brown, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025
To him, the field looked ruined — nothing like the stiff, proud stalks of wheat growing nearby.
—Julia Rendleman, ProPublica, 5 Sep. 2025
Helene cost him less than 10 percent of that collection, thousands of seeds ruined when his freezers lost power and frost melted.
—Lila Hempel-Edgers, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2025
Also, no one wants their magical photos ruined by scaffolding or lift trucks, so Disney specifically selects paint that will be long-lasting and durable.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruined
Adjective
-
Owner Jason Boso fixed that, infusing $2 million into the 10-year-old bar on better bathrooms, a covered section of the patio and a re-done kitchen.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas News,
3 Apr. 2023
Verb
-
Multiple rocket explosions nearly bankrupted the company.—
Joel Shulman,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Jerry Garcia's 1977 pet project, which nearly bankrupted the band, screens in IMAX this weekend.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The tall, steep mountains that rise to 6,000 feet in elevation in the Grandfather District saw triple digit winds and some of the heaviest rainfall of the storm with hundreds of miles of trail and road destroyed.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Alshon cruised past Johnson 3,7 in a surprise, while Garnett destroyed Haworth 4,1 to set up a very solid final.—
Todd Boss,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hours later, after another warning was posted on X by the Israeli military, a multi-story building in Gaza City was struck but not demolished.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
-
In a shocking and dominant performance, Lesnar completely demolished Cena, delivering 16 German suplexes in a one-sided beatdown to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These include a Nunavut man’s firsthand account of discovering the wreck of the HMS Terror, one of British Captain John Franklin’s two doomed mid-19th-century expedition ships, which became trapped in ice before sinking off the southwest coast of King William Island.—
Robin Catalano,
AFAR Media,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Her mother, Colette Watson, was a flight attendant on the doomed Eastern plane, but walked away from the crash nearly unharmed.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This contagious malady has ravaged Norfolk County over the past few years.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
-
On the news, Ukraine was ravaged.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Getty Images The nascent campaign has already shattered the record for philanthropic money raised in support of hosting an Olympic and Paralympic Games.—
Blythe Lawrence,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
When your industry is being shattered by greed?—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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With consistent insight, leaders can shift from reactive spending to strategic investing—turning technology from a sunk cost into a competitive advantage.—
Kathleen Hurley,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
With Aguirre’s plan, the efforts will become a sunk cost.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruined. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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