1
as in bankrupts
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ravages
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 destroys
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
as in rubble
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
the ruins of an abandoned abbey
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruins
Verb
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By clinging to Newtonian certainty, economics often destroys the opportunity to do something magically creative.—
Eric Markowitz,
Big Think,
30 Dec. 2024 -
Other points-counterpoints focus on whether pasteurization also destroys vitamins in milk.—
Jan Ellen Spiegel,
Hartford Courant,
24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The collection of works for this show, featuring a number of new pieces, mixes glass, earth, stone, lace and bronze elements, along with some bronze cast and borosilicate glass forms that Akashi recovered from the rubble of her studio.—
The Editors,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2025
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Gulf Arab states would also be expected to finance much of Gaza's redevelopment as rubble is cleared.—
Aya Batrawy,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Even if the garage door is open, don't start a vehicle if the garage is attached to a home. Furnace and fireplaces: Keep fireplaces clean and in good condition, make sure no debris is blocking the vents or chimney.—
Sara Moniuszko,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2025
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Residents who live near local landfills say the wildfire debris should be sent to hazardous waste landfills instead.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Modern international law emerged from the wreckage of world wars.—
Gyunduz Mamedov,
TIME,
24 Feb. 2025
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The event also brought attendees back to its storied spot along the West Coast (coincidentally, the location is changing next year) — just a few miles south of the wreckage left by last month’s devastating wildfires in the Pacific Palisades.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
24 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Ruins.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruins. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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