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ruin
[ roo-in ]
noun
- 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.
Synonyms: wreck, defeat, overthrow, fall
Antonyms: creation, construction
- 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.
verb (used with object)
- to reduce to a fallen, wrecked, or decayed condition; devastate.
- to bring (a person, company, etc.) to financial destruction; bankrupt.
- 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.
verb (used without object)
- to fall into decay; fall to pieces.
- to come to downfall or destruction.
ruin
/ ˈruːɪn /
noun
- 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
verb
- tr to bring to ruin; destroy
- tr to injure or spoil
the town has been ruined with tower blocks
- archaic.intr to fall into ruins; collapse
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Derived Forms
- ˈruiner, noun
- ˈruinable, adjective
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Other Words From
- ruin·a·ble adjective
- ruin·er noun
- half-ruined adjective
- non·ruin·a·ble adjective
- self-ruin noun
- self-ruined adjective
- un·ruin·a·ble adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of ruin1
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Idioms and Phrases
see rack and ruin .Discover More
Synonym Study
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Example Sentences
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.
You 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.
Particularly was this the case with Davout, who since 1809 had suspected that Berthier desired to ruin his reputation.
Such 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.
As for the ruin of any other party, the idea, by a very happy dispensation, never once occurred to him.
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Related Words
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from 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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