ruination
noun/ˌɹuː.ɪˈneɪʃən/
Etymology From ruin + -ation.
1
The 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
The act of ruining or wrecking.
3
The cause of being ruined, destroyed or lost.
4
A 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
- destruction, wrecking
- Antonyms
- foundation, construction, building