ruination

R1U1I1N1A1T1I1O1N1
/ˌɹuː.ɪˈneɪʃən/

noun

The state of being ruined, a state of devastation or destruction.

Similar
destructionwreckingruindownfalllaying wasteruining
Opposite
foundationconstructionbuilding
UncommonScrabble 9
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Meanings

nounruination (countable and uncountable, plural ruinations)

plural ruinations

  1. countableuncountableThe state of being ruined, a state of devastation or destruction.

    As our tour has shown, the state of ruination of castle sites was a key factor in their fate when the railways came through.

    2022 January 12, Dr. Joseph Brennan, “Castles: ruined and redeemed by rail”, in RAIL, number 948, page 56
  2. countableuncountableThe act of ruining or wrecking.

    Synonyms: destruction, wrecking

  3. countableuncountableThe cause of being ruined, destroyed or lost.
  4. countableuncountableA loss of reputation.

    Yet also thanks largely to Trump, a parallel disaster is unfolding across the world: the ruination of America’s reputation as a safe, trustworthy, competent international leader and partner.

    2020 April 12, Simon Tisdall, “US's global reputation hits rock-bottom over Trump's coronavirus response”, in The Guardian

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe act of ruining or wrecking.

Similar
destructionwrecking

antonym(s) of “act of ruining”

Opposite
foundationconstructionbuilding

More synonyms by meaning

nounan irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction

Similar
ruin
Broader
devastationdesolation

nounan event that results in destruction

Similar
ruin
Broader
destructiondemolitionwipeout

nounfailure that results in a loss of position or reputation

Similar
downfallruin
Broader
failure

noundestruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined

Similar
laying wasteruinruiningwrecking
Broader
destructiondevastation
Also see
downfallruinruiningwrecking

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From ruin + -ation.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian разруха, разрушаване
  • разруха (razruha)state of being ruined
  • разрушаване (razrušavane)act of ruining
Chinese Mandarin 破壞 /破坏
  • 破壞 /破坏 (pòhuài)act of ruining
French ruination, ruination
  • ruinationstate of being ruined
  • ruinationact of ruining
German Verderben, Vernichtung
  • Verderbenstate of being ruined
  • Vernichtungact of ruining
  • Verderbenact of ruining
Italian rovina, rovina
  • rovinastate of being ruined
  • rovinaact of ruining
Japanese 破綻, 破産
  • 破綻 (hatan)state of being ruined
  • 破産 (hasan)state of being ruined
  • 潰滅 (kaimetsu)state of being ruined
  • 破壊 (hakai)act of ruining
  • 破棄 (haki)act of ruining
  • 打倒 (datō)act of ruining
  • 打ち壊し (buchikowashi)act of ruining
Māori whakapakarutanga
  • whakapakarutangaact of ruining
Portuguese ruína, ruína
  • ruínastate of being ruined
  • ruínaact of ruining
Spanish ruina, ruina
  • ruinastate of being ruined
  • ruinaact of ruining

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

urination
Cite this entry
APA

ruination. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ruination

MLA

“ruination.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ruination. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ruination,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ruination.

Source: ruination on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.