WordGarden.ioruination
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /rˌuːɪnˈeɪʃən/
US
Meanings
Noun
severe destruction or devastation that leaves something badly ruined
complete downfall, especially through financial collapse or loss of standing
Beyond the definition
Ruination isn't just about things falling apart; it's the complete destruction of something: a person, a place, a reputation, even a dream. Think of a grand castle crumbling after years of neglect or war. That's the kind of loss this word points to. It suggests an end state that cannot be undone. A single mistake might cause damage, but repeated errors and bad luck can lead to complete ruin.
The word carries a sense of sadness and loss. You might speak of the "ruination of a family fortune" after years of bad investments or the "ruination of a career" after a scandal. It's stronger than simply saying something is broken; it implies that everything has been lost and cannot be fixed. You often see it in classic tragedies, where it fits stories of terrible choices and painful endings.
Ruination refers to the complete destruction or downfall of something, leaving it in a state of ruin. It's more than ordinary damage; it implies a thorough and irreversible collapse. Think of an ancient city swallowed by desert sands, or a once-thriving business brought down by mismanagement and debt.
The word often carries a sense of tragedy, suggesting something beautiful or valuable has been lost forever. It can apply to physical structures ("the ruination of the old manor house"), but also to abstract things like reputations ("his careless words led to the ruination of his good name") or hopes ("the war brought about the ruination of their dreams").
Historically, "ruination" was often linked to concepts of moral decay and divine punishment. In literature, it frequently appears in stories of ambition, greed, and tragic flaws—where characters bring about their own downfall through their actions. For example, in Hamlet, the protagonist's quest for revenge and Claudius's treachery ultimately lead to the ruination of the Danish court.
While we might say a broken vase is damaged, we'd use "ruination" when describing something utterly destroyed, irrevocably lost, and steeped in a sense of finality. It suggests not just an end, but a complete and devastating collapse.
Examples
- 1
Small business
Bad loans and rising costs pushed the small company toward ruination.
- 2
Gambling
He kept gambling, even when it was clearly leading to financial ruination.
- Phrasefinancial ruination
complete loss of money
- 3
Physical decay
Years of neglect led to the ruination of the old theater.
- Patternthe ruination of + thing
the complete destruction of it
- 4
Literary theme
In the novel, pride is shown as the cause of the hero's ruination.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- financial ruination
- complete ruination
- lead to ruination
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- ruinationnoun