1
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
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
That could be ruinous to a sector which has been in decline for decades.
—
David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 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
And so one of Rothstein’s protégés, Dutch Schultz—who, thanks to the layoff networks, had access to ready cash—began lending to the Harlem numbers bankers, at ruinous rates.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Only intense public pressure and the threat of ruinous lawsuits have led it to take action.
—R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 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
And so one of Rothstein’s protégés, Dutch Schultz—who, thanks to the layoff networks, had access to ready cash—began lending to the Harlem numbers bankers, at ruinous rates.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Only intense public pressure and the threat of ruinous lawsuits have led it to take action.
—R. R. Reno, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2018
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruinous
Adjective
-
Moulton’s Senate primary rationale, stated or otherwise, rests on the enduring public image of former President Joe Biden, who withdrew from his 2024 reelection bid after a disastrous debate against Trump revealed limitations of being in office at age 82 and beyond.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
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No one has been sent home or saved because of a disastrous technical.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That’s a devastating blow because Pionk’s second-pair success is somewhat dependent on having Samberg as his partner.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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That devastating loss solidified the TV personality’s resolve to use her platform not just as entertainment, but as a lifeline to stand beside fellow survivors and to create tangible resources through her non-profit, the Big Heart Foundation.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The crossover came amid recent turmoil, including Colbert’s show being canceled by in July and Kimmel's temporary suspension by ABC in September following controversial comments about the fatal shooting of political activist Charlie Kirk.—
Megan Cartwright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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And one expert has suggested that steel or concrete barriers can also help guard against deadly attacks like the one in Grand Blanc Township, as well as unintentional fatal wrecks and may even help businesses stave off plaintiff lawsuits.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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When the federal government reached an agreement with Alabama officials last October to address destructive flooding in the predominantly Black Shiloh community, residents thought their calls for help had finally been answered.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
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Smart fabric for roads Road maintenance has long relied on visible surface wear or destructive core drilling to assess deeper damage.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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To lose Livramento and Hall at the same time is unfortunate and has left Newcastle stretched down the defensive flanks, but letting Targett go was the right decision.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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The track record in Jacksonville is a series of unfortunate events, and that hasn’t been because of the record.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The floods will return – and some will be catastrophic.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
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The law defines catastrophic risk narrowly as incidents potentially causing 50+ deaths or $1 billion in damage through weapons assistance, autonomous criminal acts, or loss of control.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruinous. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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