ENGLISH THESAURUS & DICTIONARY

ruin

noun · verb

Words like ruin

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72 words · noun, verbSort by

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MEANING & USAGE

Definitions & examples

01noun

an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction

“you have brought ruin on this entire family”

02noun

a ruined building

“they explored several Roman ruins”

03noun

the process of becoming dilapidated

04noun

an event that results in destruction

8 more meanings

05noun

failure that results in a loss of position or reputation

06noun

destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined

07verb

destroy completely; damage irreparably

“You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!”

“The tears ruined her make-up”

08verb

destroy or cause to fail

“This behavior will ruin your chances of winning the election”

09verb

reduce to bankruptcy

“My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!”

“The slump in the financial markets smashed him”

10verb

reduce to ruins

“The country lay ruined after the war”

11verb

deprive of virginity

“This dirty old man deflowered several young girls in the village”

12verb

fall into ruin

Meanings and examples from Open English WordNet 2025. About our sources ↗