ruin

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: ruinationdilapidationdownfalllaying wasteruiningwreckingdestroybankruptbreaksmashdeflower

WordNet 3.0

Noun (6)

  1. an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction“you have brought ruin on this entire family”Synonyms: ruination
  2. a ruined building“they explored several Roman ruins”
  3. the process of becoming dilapidatedSynonyms: dilapidation
  4. an event that results in destructionSynonyms: ruination
  5. failure that results in a loss of position or reputationSynonyms: downfallruination
  6. destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruinedSynonyms: laying wasteruiningruinationwrecking

Verb (6)

  1. destroy completely; damage irreparably“You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!”“The tears ruined her make-up”Synonyms: destroy
  2. destroy or cause to fail“This behavior will ruin your chances of winning the election”
  3. reduce to bankruptcy“My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!”“The slump in the financial markets smashed him”Synonyms: bankruptbreaksmash
  4. reduce to ruins“The country lay ruined after the war”
  5. deprive of virginity“This dirty old man deflowered several young girls in the village”Synonyms: deflower
  6. fall into ruin
Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Ruin \Ru"in\, n. [OE. ruine, F. ruine, fr. L. ruina, fr. ruere, rutum, to fall with violence, to rush or tumble down.]

1.The act of falling or tumbling down; fall. [Obs.] "His ruin startled the other steeds." --Chapman. [1913 Webster]

2.Such a change of anything as destroys it, or entirely defeats its object, or unfits it for use; destruction; overthrow; as, the ruin of a ship or an army; the ruin of a constitution or a government; the ruin of health or hopes. "Ruin seize thee, ruthless king!" --Gray. [1913 Webster]

3.That which is fallen down and become worthless from injury or decay; as, his mind is a ruin; especially, in the plural, the remains of a destroyed, dilapidated, or desolate house, fortress, city, or the like. [1913 Webster]

The Veian and the Gabian towers shall fall, And one promiscuous ruin cover all; Nor, after length of years, a stone betray The place where once the very ruins lay.— Addison.[1913 Webster]
The labor of a day will not build up a virtuous habit on the ruins of an old and vicious character.— Buckminster.[1913 Webster]

4.The state of being dcayed, or of having become ruined or worthless; as, to be in ruins; to go to ruin. [1913 Webster]

5.That which promotes injury, decay, or destruction. [1913 Webster]

The errors of young men are the ruin of business.— Bacon.[1913 Webster]

Syn: Destruction; downfall; perdition; fall; overthrow; subversion; defeat; bane; pest; mischief. [1913 Webster]

Ruin \Ru"in\, v. i. To fall to ruins; to go to ruin; to become decayed or dilapidated; to perish. [R.] [1913 Webster]

Though he his house of polished marble build, Yet shall it ruin like the moth's frail cell. --Sandys. [1913 Webster]

If we are idle, and disturb the industrious in their business, we shall ruin the faster. --Locke. [1913 Webster]

Ruin \Ru"in\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ruined;p. pr. & vb. n. Ruining.] [Cf. F. ruiner, LL. ruinare. See Ruin, n.] To bring to ruin; to cause to fall to pieces and decay; to make to perish; to bring to destruction; to bring to poverty or bankruptcy; to impair seriously; to damage essentially; to overthrow. [1913 Webster]

this mortal house I'll ruin. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

By thee raised, I ruin all my foes. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

The eyes of other people are the eyes that ruin us. --Franklin. [1913 Webster]

By the fireside there are old men seated, Seeling ruined cities in the ashes. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

The Devil's Dictionary

RUIN, v. To destroy. Specifically, to destroy a maid's belief in the virtue of maids.
Advertisement