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 wrecked
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
Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
Pete Crow-Armstrong put his name in the Chicago Cubs' record book next to Hall of Fame slugger Hack Wilson — and then nearly ruined the celebration at Wrigley Field.
—ABC News, 16 June 2026
However, Haynes Edwards has heard from residents throughout the town whose homes were ruined.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
In short, what felt like never ending conflict, stress, anxiety, and overall deeply negative energy surrounding the process and lead up to this album's release absolutely ruined this music for me.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
The Spurs rose up and ruined that party, winning their only game of the series.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Wednesday’s re-inspection got ruined by four live roaches, one of which was spotted on the dining area floor and another on a cookline shelf with clean plates.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
One of the worst ways a good trip can get ruined is to have something stolen.
—Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
That's when the PAW Patrol has to step in to stop Humdinger before the island is ruined!
—Sari Hitchins, Parents, 10 June 2026
Adjective
His choices allow the viewer to drink in the intimate details of the ruined world.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
Verb
Showing up to shoot in person would only have ruined the city with its realness.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
Pete Crow-Armstrong put his name in the Chicago Cubs' record book next to Hall of Fame slugger Hack Wilson — and then nearly ruined the celebration at Wrigley Field.
—ABC News, 16 June 2026
However, Haynes Edwards has heard from residents throughout the town whose homes were ruined.
—Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
In short, what felt like never ending conflict, stress, anxiety, and overall deeply negative energy surrounding the process and lead up to this album's release absolutely ruined this music for me.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
The Spurs rose up and ruined that party, winning their only game of the series.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Wednesday’s re-inspection got ruined by four live roaches, one of which was spotted on the dining area floor and another on a cookline shelf with clean plates.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
One of the worst ways a good trip can get ruined is to have something stolen.
—Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2026
That's when the PAW Patrol has to step in to stop Humdinger before the island is ruined!
—Sari Hitchins, Parents, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruined
Adjective
-
The investigation, according to the archives, cited several factors as contributing to the tragedy, including Holland’s disregard of procedures, the failure of superiors to take previous action and the inadequate preparation of crew members aboard the doomed plane.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
In his hands, Tom can be buffoonish, tragic, doomed and heroic at once.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
He is relieved is working at a plant in Elkhart, Indiana which was once a 100-year-old family business, and was bought by a new investor who has nearly bankrupted it in two years.—
Teresa Ghilarducci,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2026
-
Fuel consumption for such a vessel would also likely have bankrupted the Japanese Navy.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The crash sparked a fire that destroyed the aircraft, which was operating as a skydiving flight, according to the NTSB.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
The fire burned more than 60 acres and destroyed several structures, including homes, according to CBS Los Angeles.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Guerrero Flores returned to the prison in Aragua on murder and other convictions in 2013, when Venezuela’s crisis began and corruption, mismanagement and a drop in crude prices wrecked the oil-dependent economy.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
-
The six jurors in George Pino’s vessel-homicide and manslaughter trial took a road trip to North Miami on Thursday morning to view his boat, which was wrecked in the crash that killed a teenage girl and severely injured two others.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Your instincts versus the sunk cost of your trip.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
This mindset, however, can also foster a sunk cost fallacy.—
Kumar Rakesh Ranjan,
The Conversation,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In recent months, Ukraine has time and again attacked Russian energy infrastructure in a bid to both dent the Kremlin's war chest and bring the reality of a war that has ravaged Ukraine home to Russians as well.—
Charles Maynes,
NPR,
18 June 2026
-
The good news is that skies have since cleared, but for much of Wednesday morning and afternoon, residents in Streator, about 90 miles southwest of Chicago and already ravaged by an EF-3 tornado, were getting pummeled with rain.—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Last week, an iconic cafe was demolished at the base of the structure, and on Sunday, some residents were wondering if excavation work three weeks ago may have contributed to the pier's collapse.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
Without any fencing or protective outer layer, the house was demolished in 1902, devoured by cows.—
Noah Daly,
Idaho Statesman,
13 June 2026
Adjective
-
The researchers describe the work as a proof of concept that opens the possibility of harnessing the ocular microbiome to treat eye diseases, rather than a finished clinical therapy.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
-
But, as Manuel said, there’s still a way to go before October, and the Sox are far from a finished product.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruined. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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