1
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
a ruinous miscalculation of the financial markets left them bankrupt
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devastating
causing or tending to cause destruction
a ruinous windstorm destroyed the crops
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruinous
Meanwhile, county officials will need to save all their firepower to fight a ruinous plan to slash funding the county depends on for essential functions like emergency services.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Breaking so many contacts between cells may seem ruinous for a zygote floating in the womb.
—Clare Watson, Quanta Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026
Wednesday, still Yorkshire’s most successful club with eight major trophies, have been in administration since October following the ultimately ruinous reign of Dejphon Chansiri.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Now, in a ruinous turnaround, the city has decided that, when updating community plans, adequate infrastructure doesn’t matter anymore.
—Nico Calavita, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Breaking so many contacts between cells may seem ruinous for a zygote floating in the womb.
—Clare Watson, Quanta Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026
Wednesday, still Yorkshire’s most successful club with eight major trophies, have been in administration since October following the ultimately ruinous reign of Dejphon Chansiri.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Now, in a ruinous turnaround, the city has decided that, when updating community plans, adequate infrastructure doesn’t matter anymore.
—Nico Calavita, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruinous
Adjective
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Sure, after the Epstein scandal and that disastrous interview, Andrew was forced to step down as working royal.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
12 Apr. 2026
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McIlroy led by six strokes after 36 holes but entered Sunday tied for first after a disastrous third round.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In September, authorities arrested a boy from Illinois who in 2023, at age 15, allegedly launched a devastating cyberattack on Las Vegas casinos that reportedly cost MGM Resorts alone more than $100 million.—
Mike Levine,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The upswing suggests that the exhibition industry is beginning to recover from the devastating downturn that occurred in the aftermath of the pandemic when people got out of the habit of watching movies on the big screen and instead turned to Netflix and other streaming platforms.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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However, the company confirmed the leaking line was installed in the early 1970s — the same era as the pipe involved in the fatal 1997 blast.—
Lexi Salazar,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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In July 2024, a Santa Fe judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin, 68, for the fatal shooting after ruling that the prosecution concealed evidence from his legal team.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This is the concept that forms the bedrock of the destructive incel ideology.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
8 Apr. 2026
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Of course authoritarianism is a destructive force.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Mikey never ended up doing anything beyond flirting, but his unfortunate turn of phrase was all Sydney needed to begin exploring her options in the villa.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
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The Charlotte Hornets received an unfortunate reminder Friday night in their last home game of the regular season.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Early warnings were dismissed before, with catastrophic consequences.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
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For a community already grappling with a $24 million budget deficit this year, the financial consequences of an additional $100 million debt are beyond catastrophic.—
John Gates,
Denver Post,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruinous. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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