1
as in downfall
something that is the cause of one's ultimate failure or loss of life neglect and indifference have proved to be the ruination of more than one marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless although this is a setback, it isn't complete ruination for the company
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ruination Advertisement What’s perhaps most critical around the plague is its embodiment of feelings of destruction and ruination. —
Nathan Smith, Time, 26 Nov. 2025 Wedding fundraising pages are not invoices that require payment under threat of credit ruination. —R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025 Fetterman and McCormick set for high-stakes Pennsylvania forum MAJOR HEADLINES ‘DAMAGING DECISION’ – Trump says tariff ruling could lead to 'economic ruination' of US. —FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025 Charged with gun possession and bribing a witness, Mr. Combs stood trial for seven weeks in early 2001, facing the possibility of 15 years in prison — and, possibly, the ruination of his career. —Ben Sisario, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ruination
Nathan Smith, Time, 26 Nov. 2025 Wedding fundraising pages are not invoices that require payment under threat of credit ruination. —R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025 Fetterman and McCormick set for high-stakes Pennsylvania forum MAJOR HEADLINES ‘DAMAGING DECISION’ – Trump says tariff ruling could lead to 'economic ruination' of US. —FOXNews.com, 2 June 2025 Charged with gun possession and bribing a witness, Mr. Combs stood trial for seven weeks in early 2001, facing the possibility of 15 years in prison — and, possibly, the ruination of his career. —Ben Sisario, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ruination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruination
Noun
-
Swalwell’s downfall was particularly swift; his 16-year political career imploded over a single weekend.— Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
-
Swalwell’s downfall might even show that, if old-school journalism can still mete out consequences for bad behavior, new media can sometimes accelerate this process, rather than dilute it.— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The incident prompted Christian leaders from around the world — including Pope Leo XIV — to urge Israel to stop its destruction of holy sites and civilian lives in Gaza and the West Bank.— April 20, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
-
May the world know that Americans are ashamed and suffering and locked into despair and destruction, which now affects the world.— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Amid the devastation, strangers formed profound, life-altering bonds in fleeting, life-or-death moments and connections that have endured for decades.— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
-
Spurs must somehow move on from the palpable devastation that left Kevin Danso on the floor, needing to be pulled up by his team-mates, and other players looking utterly crestfallen at the final whistle.— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The aim is for Abdul to cause havoc in the United States, the West Bank and Iran.— Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2026
-
In the twentieth century, the same storms that made headlines in New York wreaked quieter havoc across the river.— Eric Klinenberg, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Minnesota is in the midst of an extinction crisis, with entire species being wiped out before they can even be identified.— Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
-
Founded by Hampshire alum Aaron Lansky in 1980 as an effort to save Yiddish-language publications from extinction, the Yiddish Book Center purchased the land for its permanent campus space from the college in 1997.— Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For thousands of data-loss victims, the last resort is a recovery service called DriveSavers.— Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
-
The lack of disclosure comes as other states record mounting losses in tax revenue to data center subsidies.— Kevin Hardy, Baltimore Sun, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Trump has also repeatedly railed against a federal judge who ordered construction on the ballroom — which required the surprise demolition of the White House’s East Wing — to be temporarily halted until the president receives authorization from Congress.— Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
-
One minute, the robots are a construction crew, and the next, a demolition team.— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/ruination. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
