ruin
ruins, the remains of a building, city, etc., that has been destroyed or that is in disrepair or a state of decay: We visited the ruins of ancient Greece.
a destroyed or decayed building, town, etc.
a fallen, wrecked, or decayed condition: The building fell to ruin.
the downfall, decay, or destruction of anything.
the complete loss of health, means, position, hope, or the like.
something that causes a downfall or destruction; blight: Alcohol was his ruin.
the downfall of a person; undoing: Fate decreed the ruin of Oedipus.
a person as the wreck of their former self; ravaged individual.
the act of causing destruction or a downfall.
to damage, spoil, or injure (a thing) irretrievably: Not only was the burned stew inedible, but I had absolutely ruined one of my favorite pots.
Older Use. to induce (a woman) to surrender her virginity; deflower.
to fall into decay; fall to pieces.
to come to downfall or destruction.
Origin of ruin
1synonym study For ruin
Other words for ruin
Opposites for ruin
Other words from ruin
- ru·in·a·ble, adjective
- ru·in·er, noun
- half-ruined, adjective
- non·ru·in·a·ble, adjective
- self-ruin, noun
- self-ruined, adjective
- un·ru·in·a·ble, adjective
Words Nearby ruin
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use ruin in a sentence
Slinking off to his room amid the ruins of his “collapsing life,” William knows he’s an international pariah, the poster man-child for infidelity.
Ethan Hawke turns his acting experience — and past infidelities — into brilliant fiction | Ron Charles | February 2, 2021 | Washington PostYou’ll be known as those who can fix anything,restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,make the community livable again.
'We Must Have a Third Reconstruction.' Read the Full Text of the Rev. William J. Barber II's Sermon at the Inaugural Prayer Service | William J. Barber II | January 21, 2021 | TimeI often point out how the ancient ruins are becoming more visible, but the girls couldn’t care less.
Investors look to buck a four-week losing streak, sending global stocks higher | Bernhard Warner | September 28, 2020 | FortuneAs I stood and stared at the vast ruins before me, I pressed play on my phone and found myself even more deeply transported.
The Fed doesn’t seem very interested in explaining why, for example, a country as rich as ours has so many people just one step away from financial ruin — as Mary Daly’s own family was.
In the piece, Gladwell asked, “Should a charge of plagiarism ruin your life?”
Scandal equals reputational, emotional and financial ruin—for all concerned.
Only time will tell whether Mattel can save their premier toy from financial ruin.
No, you are going to ruin any chance you have and give us a bad name.
One message was clear: Capitalism is causing environmental ruin and must be stopped to save the planet from devastation.
Occupy Climate Change! Hundreds Blame Capitalism at Flood Wall Street Rally | Jacob Siegel | September 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTYou need but will, and it is done; but if you relax your efforts, you will be ruined; for ruin and recovery are both from within.
Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. BallouParticularly was this the case with Davout, who since 1809 had suspected that Berthier desired to ruin his reputation.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonSuch a refusal would lead to quick enquiry—enquiry to information—information to want of confidence and speedy ruin.
De Castellor was now in his seat; and when Castanos came off; the Duke was stunned into stupor, overcome by the illimitable ruin.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterAs for the ruin of any other party, the idea, by a very happy dispensation, never once occurred to him.
British Dictionary definitions for ruin
/ (ˈruːɪn) /
destroyed or decayed building or town
the state or condition of being destroyed or decayed
loss of wealth, position, etc, or something that causes such loss; downfall
something that is severely damaged: his life was a ruin
a person who has suffered a downfall, bankruptcy, etc
loss of value or usefulness
archaic loss of her virginity by a woman outside marriage
(tr) to bring to ruin; destroy
(tr) to injure or spoil: the town has been ruined with tower blocks
(intr) archaic, or poetic to fall into ruins; collapse
Origin of ruin
1Derived forms of ruin
- ruinable, adjective
- ruiner, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with ruin
see rack and ruin.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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