as in ruining
to cause to lose one's fortune and become unable to pay one's debts
several bad investments bankrupted him
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Recent Examples of bankrupting
Among its many distinctions, SPLC is known for bankrupting the Ku Klux Klan.
—
Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
The Aryan Nations case in 2000 delivered a similar outcome for the Keenans, effectively bankrupting Aryan Nations and Butler, one of the nation’s most influential hate proliferators.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Analyses show the experiment succeeded at expanding access and controlling costs without bankrupting health systems or pharmaceutical firms.
—Michael Rose, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
But the question of how to get landlords to deliver this housing without bankrupting their buildings matters just as much.
—Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
The indictment, unsealed in a federal courthouse in New York on Thursday, accuses Patrick James and Edward James of bankrupting First Brands and fraudulently obtaining billions of dollars behind the backs of the company's lenders and financing partners.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
The government dissolved Aum as a tax-exempt religious organization, effectively bankrupting it, and began to scrutinize other new religions, including the Unification Church.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Yamagami blames the sect for bankrupting his family through excessive donations from his mother, a member.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
County leaders are concerned about bankrupting the fund, which would in turn jeopardize county services.
—Erin Glynn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Dec. 2025
Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
The Aryan Nations case in 2000 delivered a similar outcome for the Keenans, effectively bankrupting Aryan Nations and Butler, one of the nation’s most influential hate proliferators.
—Josh Meyer, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Analyses show the experiment succeeded at expanding access and controlling costs without bankrupting health systems or pharmaceutical firms.
—Michael Rose, STAT, 3 Apr. 2026
But the question of how to get landlords to deliver this housing without bankrupting their buildings matters just as much.
—Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
The indictment, unsealed in a federal courthouse in New York on Thursday, accuses Patrick James and Edward James of bankrupting First Brands and fraudulently obtaining billions of dollars behind the backs of the company's lenders and financing partners.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
The government dissolved Aum as a tax-exempt religious organization, effectively bankrupting it, and began to scrutinize other new religions, including the Unification Church.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Yamagami blames the sect for bankrupting his family through excessive donations from his mother, a member.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
County leaders are concerned about bankrupting the fund, which would in turn jeopardize county services.
—Erin Glynn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bankrupting
ruining
Verb
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Determining how the teen died took time, and after months of additional investigation, prosecutors announced charges against D4vd that allege her murder was a premeditated attempt to keep her from ruining his music career by exposing their underage relationship.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
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Additionally, wet windows can accumulate condensation overnight, potentially ruining your hard work.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bankrupting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bankrupting. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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