What does ruiner mean?
A ruiner is a person or thing that causes ruin, damage, or failure. The word may describe someone who physically destroys property, but it is also commonly used figuratively for a person or event that spoils a plan, ruins a reputation, damages a relationship, or undermines someone's prospects. Its strong final syllable gives it a memorable, emphatic quality, and it often carries a serious or dramatic tone rather than a casual one. In phrases such as 'the ruiner of fortune' or 'the ruiner of plans,' it identifies someone or something as the decisive cause of a disastrous outcome. Because it focuses attention on the source of destruction rather than the damage itself, 'ruiner' is especially effective in narrative, literary, and historical contexts. It can also be used humorously or hyperbolically, though usually with the implication that the consequences are severe.
nounA person or thing that ruins something, especially by causing damage, destruction, or failure. The word can refer literally to a destroyer of physical objects or figuratively to something that spoils plans, hopes, or prospects.
- A person or thing that destroys or damages something.
- A person or thing that spoils plans, prospects, or hopes.
- A person who ruins another person's life, reputation, or finances.
"The hurricane was the ruiner of the coastal town's oldest homes."
"The decision to ignore the warnings proved to be the ruiner of the entire project."
"She was not a cruel person, but jealousy made her the ruiner of a close friendship."
The plural is used for multiple people or things that ruin or cause destruction.
"The ruiners of the old city left little of its historic architecture standing."
The word 'ruiner' is compact and forceful: it turns the idea of destruction into a memorable label for the person or thing responsible.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ruiner come from?
The word 'ruiner' is derived from 'ruin,' which came through Old French from Latin 'ruina,' referring to destruction or a ruined structure. The suffix '-er' forms a noun indicating a person or thing that performs the action or causes the resulting state. Related forms include 'ruinous,' describing something that causes or threatens ruin, and 'ruination,' meaning destruction or the act of ruining.
Related word forms
How ruiner is actually used
Generally literary or narrative in tone. It can sound deliberately emphatic, so it is more forceful than the more neutral 'one who causes damage'.