RUINATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ruination mean? 

• RUINATION (noun)
  The noun RUINATION has 4 senses:

1. an irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction

2. an event that results in destruction

3. failure that results in a loss of position or reputation

4. destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined

  Familiarity information: RUINATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RUINATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An irrecoverable state of devastation and destruction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

ruin; ruination

Context example:

you have brought ruin on this entire family

Hypernyms ("ruination" is a kind of...):

desolation; devastation (the state of being decayed or destroyed)

Derivation:

ruin (reduce to ruins)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An event that results in destruction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

ruin; ruination

Hypernyms ("ruination" is a kind of...):

demolition; destruction; wipeout (an event (or the result of an event) that completely destroys something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ruination"):

desolation; devastation (an event that results in total destruction)

shipwreck (an irretrievable loss)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Failure that results in a loss of position or reputation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

downfall; ruin; ruination

Hypernyms ("ruination" is a kind of...):

failure (an event that does not accomplish its intended purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ruination"):

finish (the downfall of someone (as of persons on one side of a conflict))

Sense 4

Meaning:

Destruction achieved by causing something to be wrecked or ruined

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

laying waste; ruin; ruination; ruining; wrecking

Hypernyms ("ruination" is a kind of...):

destruction; devastation (the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists)

Derivation:

ruin (destroy completely; damage irreparably)

 Context examples 

Now, that's about where we are, every mother's son of us, thanks to him, and Hands, and Anderson, and other ruination fools of you.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)