Used in a Sentence

ruin

How to use ruin in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for ruin.

Editorial note

In short, Orwell feared that what we fear will ruin us. Huxley feared that our desire will ruin us.~ Neil Postman

Examples11
Definitions12
Parts of speech2

Quick take

an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction; "you have brought ruin on this entire family"

Meaning at a glance

The clearest senses and uses of ruin gathered in one view.

noun

an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction; "you have brought ruin on this entire family"

noun

a ruined building; "they explored several Roman ruins"

noun

the process of becoming dilapidated

Definitions

Core meanings and parts of speech for ruin.

noun

an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction; "you have brought ruin on this entire family"

noun

a ruined building; "they explored several Roman ruins"

noun

the process of becoming dilapidated

noun

an event that results in destruction

noun

failure that results in a loss of position or reputation

verb

destroy completely; damage irreparably; "You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!"; "The tears ruined her make-up"

verb

destroy or cause to fail; "This behavior will ruin your chances of winning the election"

verb

reduce to bankruptcy; "My daughter's fancy wedding is going to break me!"; "The slump in the financial markets smashed him"

verb

reduce to ruins; "The country lay ruined after the war"

verb

deprive of virginity; "This dirty old man deflowered several young girls in the village"

verb

fall into ruin

Example sentences

1

In short, Orwell feared that what we fear will ruin us. Huxley feared that our desire will ruin us.~ Neil Postman

2

It's what will ruin America - is already doing so.

3

Mainly from the recent crop, but those bad seeds kinda ruin the whole "work for a random anonymous YC company!

4

They got to ask the government what they are doing to protect them from these 'evil immigrants who come into New Delhi and ruin our fair city'.

5

Please please please ruin your already non-existent reputation, Oracle.

6

Maybe we're all standing around worried but nobody says anything because it would ruin our carefully tended never-fail image.

7

Of course, if you argue that they should remove the supporting wheels to such users, they will, admittedly correctly, argue that they will fall _splat_ on the ground and ruin their three-piece suits.

8

They were aware and still chose to try to ruin his life even though he was clearly acting entirely in the interest of others and doing it in a manner that was civil and non violent.

9

Always be prepared for some customers, who deliberately mislead you that they don't understand the mumbo-jumbo, projecting ignorance as a shield so that they can ruin you on payments.

10

But how many of these advances see their promise still born in a culture that pays more attention to recycling its trash than the people it discards on its streets?This winner-take-all/losers-get-ruin problem goes way beyond the business cycle.

11

So, what used to be regarded as a dispute over garbage at the local dump becomes a massive environmental enforcement action by which dozens of parties face multi-million dollar liabilities; what used to be a distribution chain in which only the end-point seller typically bore liability to the consumer becomes massive product liability suits going back to the manufacturers and imposing strict liability on them in ways that can ruin a multi-billion business; what used to be the $.25 that a cab driver overcharged you because of some shifty trade practice becomes a major class action in which all the vendors in the area are swept in to face a protracted legal fight and potentially substantial damage exposure; etc., etc., etc.

Frequently asked questions

Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.

How do you use ruin in a sentence?

In short, Orwell feared that what we fear will ruin us. Huxley feared that our desire will ruin us.~ Neil Postman

What does ruin mean?

an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction; "you have brought ruin on this entire family"

What part of speech is ruin?

ruin is commonly used as noun, verb.