RUINOUS Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

ruinous

adjective

ˈrü-ə-nəs

Definition of ruinous

as in disastrous

bringing about ruin or misfortune a ruinous miscalculation of the financial markets left them bankrupt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in devastating

causing or tending to cause destruction a ruinous windstorm destroyed the crops

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of ruinous These people are ridiculous; these people are ruinous. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026 In underwriting the loss can run to many times the premium, so a model that is right 95% of the time but wildly overconfident the rest can still be ruinous if its failures bunch together in the wrong place. — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 The controversial relationship likely proved ruinous for Gates’ relationship with his now ex wife. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 11 June 2026 For a multimillion-dollar data center, that disposal model is potentially ruinous. — IEEE Spectrum, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ruinous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruinous

Adjective

Harry Kane Kane was England’s clutch player at the World Cup, scoring a late double to avoid a disastrous early exit against DR Congo and netting what turned out to be the decisive goal from the penalty spot in England’s epic 3-2 win over Mexico.

— Cerys Jones, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
That area also roughly would coincide with the stock’s post-earnings close from May 28, after a disastrous revenue miss.

— Schaeffer's Investment Research, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of disastrous

Adjective

The mother and daughter are among 90 Americans missing after the devastating landslide and flood, which tore through steep mountain gorges near the Nepal-China border and surged downstream along a river, wiping out entire villages.

— Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Kick the can If Congress fails to act, payments are expected to be 22% lower, which could be devastating for the millions of seniors who rely on their Social Security benefits to pay for basic necessities.

— Ashley Lopez, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of devastating

Adjective

Many of those thought to have been involved in Shakur’s fatal shooting have since died.

— Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Grayson, 32, was convicted of second-degree murder in October in the fatal shooting of Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman who had reported a possible prowler outside her Springfield-area home.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of fatal

Adjective

Rocha Moya faces federal charges, including narcotics importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices, along with another conspiracy count.

— CBS News, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
The Los Angeles fires in 2025 (also called the Palisades and Eaton fires) damaged or destroyed more than 18,000 structures, making them among California’s most destructive wildfires.

— Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of destructive

Adjective

Hall was excellent for Newcastle against Liverpool in the clubs’ season opener on Sunday, and unfortunate to concede a stoppage-time penalty for the equaliser.

— Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
People have an unfortunate tendency to make this song sound dour, but Garcia fills it with energy.

— Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of unfortunate

Adjective

As the consequences of this strategically catastrophic campaign become ever more apparent, the New Right’s clout is set to grow, having opposed the war from the start.

— Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
The heavy snows purify the air and insulate the food warehouses, locking in the high humidity and stable chill necessary to nurture delicate winter koji and yeast strains without catastrophic temperature spikes.

— Adam H. Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of catastrophic

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ruining

ruinous

ruins

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“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruinous. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ruinous

adjective

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