ruin

/ˈruɪn/

/ˈruɪn/

Other forms: ruined; ruins; ruining

To ruin means to wreck or destroy. If you're wearing a long dress, make sure your clumsy brother stays away from you. If he steps on it, it'll rip and be ruined.

Bad news always ruins your day and a guest's bad behavior can really ruin a party and all your fun! Be careful when adding salt to your food — too much will ruin it. Often you will see ruin used as a noun that means the state of ruin, the action that causes it or the destruction itself. If you are a ruin of your former self, you're in pretty bad shape. Use ruins for the remains of old castles and Roman structures.

Definitions of ruin

1. noun

   an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction
   “you have brought ruin on this entire family”

   synonyms: ruination

   type of:

   desolation, devastation

   the state of being decayed or destroyed
2. noun

   the process of becoming dilapidated
   synonyms: dilapidation

   type of:

   decay

   the process of gradually becoming inferior
3. noun

   destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined
   synonyms: laying waste, ruination, ruining, wrecking

   type of:

   destruction, devastation

   the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
4. noun

   an event that results in destruction
   synonyms: ruination

   types:

   desolation, devastation

   an event that results in total destruction

   shipwreck

   an irretrievable loss

   type of:

   demolition, destruction, wipeout

   an event (or the result of an event) that completely destroys something
5. noun

   failure that results in a loss of position or reputation
   synonyms: downfall, ruination

   types:

   finish

   the downfall of someone (as of persons on one side of a conflict)

   type of:

   failure

   an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose
6. noun

   a ruined building
   “they explored several Roman ruins”

   type of:

   building, edifice

   a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
7. verb

   destroy or cause to fail
   “This behavior will ruin your chances of winning the election”

   types:

   undo

   cause the ruin or downfall of

   break

   cause the failure or ruin of

   shipwreck

   ruin utterly

   type of:

   baffle, bilk, confound, cross, foil, frustrate, queer, scotch, scuttle, spoil, thwart

   hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
8. verb

   destroy completely; damage irreparably
   “You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!”

   “The tears ruined her make-up”

   synonyms: destroy

   types:

   burn, burn down, fire

   destroy by fire

   desolate, devastate, lay waste to, ravage, scourge, waste

   cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly

   harry, ravage

   make a pillaging or destructive raid on (a place), as in wartimes

   break

   find a flaw in

   break, bust

   ruin completely

   vandalise, vandalize

   destroy wantonly, as through acts of vandalism

   do a job on

   destroy completely or make ugly or useless

   subvert

   overthrow or destroy completely

   get

   overcome or destroy

   devour

   destroy completely

   despoil, plunder, rape, spoil, violate

   destroy and strip of its possession

   explode

   destroy by exploding

   consume

   destroy completely

   shipwreck

   destroy a ship

   bust up, wrack, wreck

   smash or break forcefully

   kick down, kick in

   open violently

   wash out

   wear or destroy by the force of water

   backfire

   set a controlled fire to halt an advancing forest or prairie fire

   cremate

   reduce to ashes

   torch

   burn maliciously, as by arson

   scathe, scorch

   destroy completely by or as if by fire

   break down

   cause to fall or collapse

   key

   vandalize a car by scratching the sides with a key
9. verb

   reduce to ruins
   “The country lay ruined after the war”

   type of:

   desolate, devastate, lay waste to, ravage, scourge, waste

   cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly
10. verb

    fall into ruin
    type of:

    crumble, decay, dilapidate

    fall into decay or ruin
11. verb

    reduce to bankruptcy
    synonyms: bankrupt, break, smash

    type of:

    impoverish

    make poor