1
2
: causing or tending to cause ruin
ruinously
adverb
ruinousness
noun
Examples of ruinous in a Sentence
The house has fallen into a ruinous state.
a ruinous miscalculation of the financial markets left them bankrupt
Recent Examples on the Web
That could be ruinous to a sector which has been in decline for decades.
—
David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The blockade led Napoleon to launch his ruinous invasion of Russia, which continued trading with the British.
—S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
For Dalio, this near-ruinous period was not merely a setback but a profound educational experience that redefined his investment strategy and personal philosophy.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
But Whitney’s own ruinous investments and personal demons set him on a collision course with his brother George, the gatekeeper to J.P. Morgan, who is the key to preventing the crash.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
The blockade led Napoleon to launch his ruinous invasion of Russia, which continued trading with the British.
—S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
For Dalio, this near-ruinous period was not merely a setback but a profound educational experience that redefined his investment strategy and personal philosophy.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2025
But Whitney’s own ruinous investments and personal demons set him on a collision course with his brother George, the gatekeeper to J.P. Morgan, who is the key to preventing the crash.
—Leia Mendoza, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Cite this Entry
“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruinous. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ruinous
adjective
ru·in·ous
ˈrü-ə-nəs 
: causing or tending to cause ruin : destructive
ruinously
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share