noun / verb

ruin

ROO-in/ˈruːɪn/

Destruction that leaves something badly damaged.

Floodwater ruins the small wooden model house on the workbench.

Floodwater completely destroys a carefully built small wooden model house on a workbench, unmistakable total damage.

Etymology

Latin ruina evokes something giving way and falling down. That physical collapse broadened into destruction generally, so to ruin something is to damage it beyond useful recovery.

In context

Cass Thompson Career Advice8:10

no one seeks out to ruin their reputation right but the second you make a mistake now we're like oh my reputation is ruined everybody hates me

What to Do If You Make a Mistake at Work [How to Handle It]

More examples

The lawsuit brings the company to financial ruin.
We walk through the ruins of an ancient town.
Salt water can ruin a phone.

Forms

ruin · ruins · ruined · ruining

ruinous adjective — Causing severe damage or financial loss.

Similar words

destroy: Destroy suggests damage so complete that nothing usable remains.
spoil: Spoil can describe milder damage that reduces quality or enjoyment.