ruin
noun
, -ˌin; ˈrün\
Definition of ruin
(Entry 1 of 2)
ruin
verbDefinition of ruin (Entry 2 of 2)
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Other Words from ruin
Noun
, -nət \
adjective
\
transitive verb
Verb
Synonyms & Antonyms for ruin
Synonyms: Noun
annihilation, decimation, demolishment, demolition, desolation, destruction, devastation, extermination, extinction, havoc, loss, mincemeat, obliteration, ruination, wastage, wreckage
Synonyms: Verb
Antonyms: Noun
building, construction, erection, raising
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Examples of ruin in a Sentence
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.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.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Still, finding a solution for one vehicle would hardly lead to company ruin, Whiston said. — Jamie L. Lareau, USA TODAY, "Trump would cost General Motors billions if he actually orders business out of China," 27 Aug. 2019 Despite the restaurant upstairs and doorman below, this feels like having your very own living space overlooking medieval San Teodoro and the Palatine Hill—a privileged, secret location amid the ruins and rooftops of imperial and papal Rome. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "These 6 European Apartments Are Basically Private Design Hotels," 23 Aug. 2019 On certain nights, Elad projects a sound and light show onto the ruins. — Rachel Poser, Harper's magazine, "Common Ground," 19 Aug. 2019 Wang’s mother, to this day, remains a believer in how the One-Child Policy rescued China from famine and ruin. — Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, "‘One Child Nation’ review: China’s population control policy provokes a gripping personal documentary," 15 Aug. 2019 Running a train through virgin forest also puts potentially hundreds of undiscovered ruins at risk. — Gabriel Diaz Montemayor, The Conversation, "Mexico wants to run a tourist train through its Mayan heartland — should it?," 13 Aug. 2019 Glennon ruins potentially good night: Ordinarily, completing 17 of 25 passes for 200 yards in one half of play would be encouraging. — Jerry Mcdonald, The Mercury News, "Top eight takeaways from Raiders’ win over Rams," 10 Aug. 2019 Situated near the ruins where ancient potters once worked, the town of Mata Ortiz became a hub for contemporary artisans, whose work received global acclaim. — Christopher Mosley, Dallas News, "Two Oak Cliff art galleries team up for tandem exhibition 'In Memory'," 7 Aug. 2019 Ravaged by fire in 1731, Coudenberg’s ruins were abandoned and leveled to make way for new construction. — Meghan Miner Murray, National Geographic, "9 of Europe’s underground marvels," 2 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Apple Watch or it doesn't count': How tech addiction might be ruining your workout The alerts aren't actually tied to stress, anger or holding your breath at all. — Dalvin Brown, USA TODAY, "Here's why your Apple Watch tells you to breathe all the time," 28 Aug. 2019 Miami 2020 commit Marcus Clarke watched his future team falter down the stretch of the Camping World Kickoff on Saturday night, but the loss to Florida didn’t ruin the night for the Winter Park star. — Chris Hays, orlandosentinel.com, "Miami commit Marcus Clarke of Winter Park enjoys opener despite Hurricanes loss to Gators," 25 Aug. 2019 The buzz: The last time these two teams played, the Hawkeyes ruined U-M's perfect season in a night game at Kinnick Stadium in 2016. — Orion Sang, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan Wolverines football 2019 game-by-game predictions," 25 Aug. 2019 Scandals also can ruin reelection bids and second presidential terms. — Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, "What Could Sink Trump’s Chances in 2020?," 22 Aug. 2019 Specific threats to grasslands: Poor agricultural practices can ruin soil and strip grasslands of life. — Claire Wolters, National Geographic, "Grassland threats, explained," 22 Aug. 2019 Picking the following players from your 2019 fantasy team will not necessarily ruin your chances for a championship. — Kevin Cusick, Twin Cities, "The Loop Fantasy Football Preview: The Overrated," 16 Aug. 2019 Sorry, but Stormy Daniels ruined this comparison for me. — Cady Drell, Marie Claire, "This Week in Timothée Chalamet, Week of August 2," 2 Aug. 2019 But this year, a full moon could ruin the show, Space.com reports. — Currie Engel, Time, "The Peak of the Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower Is Coming. Here's How to Watch It," 26 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ruin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.