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
The actors who especially come out on top here are Sturridge and Ford as the dueling counterpoints in this ruinous romantic triangle.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 May 2026
That’s a positive flag for an Eagles offense whose ruinous regression in the run game last season led to former OC Kevin Patullo’s ouster.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Its promise to jump on the AI gravy train, however, has seemingly left its ruinous financials in the rearview mirror.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 16 Apr. 2026
Advertisement Even with the right cast and script, this storyline could have been ruinous, its big personalities and B-movie chic and naked boobs with the word boobs scrolled across them hijacking the more crucial but less flashy family arc.
—Judy Berman, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 May 2026
That’s a positive flag for an Eagles offense whose ruinous regression in the run game last season led to former OC Kevin Patullo’s ouster.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Its promise to jump on the AI gravy train, however, has seemingly left its ruinous financials in the rearview mirror.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 16 Apr. 2026
Advertisement Even with the right cast and script, this storyline could have been ruinous, its big personalities and B-movie chic and naked boobs with the word boobs scrolled across them hijacking the more crucial but less flashy family arc.
—Judy Berman, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruinous
Adjective
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The study, published on May 31, highlights an ongoing trend toward wildfires becoming increasingly extreme, costly, and disastrous — both economically and in lives lost.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
-
Leigh Ann, boy, so striking to hear the former first lady talk about that disastrous debate performance.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
Adjective
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Femi was coming off a devastating loss against Brock Lesnar.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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Fewer, but more ‘devastating’ blazes That the world suffered fewer acres torched by wildfires in 2025 likely comes as little relief to the countries and cities that battled the infernos last year.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Iyo Sky, Roxanne Perez, Giulia and Lash Legend squared off in a fatal four-way match with a spot in the semifinals waiting for the winner.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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Underscoring the stakes for Louisville residents is the March fatal shooting of a 28-year-old woman named Katelyn Hall, who was experiencing a mental health crisis when police gunned her down in her own apartment.—
Topher Sanders,
ProPublica,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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The Bawah Anambas Foundation works with local communities to combat destructive fishing techniques, focusing on reforestation and offering skills training.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
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In distributing these weak linkages throughout a material like polystyrene, the mechanophores split in two as a crack begins to propagate, successfully redirecting the crack and dissipating the destructive energy.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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The timing is particularly unfortunate given the matchup awaiting the Knicks.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 May 2026
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While loud sounds won’t cause flat cakes, there are reasons for this unfortunate outcome.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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In 2009, 36-year-old Diane Schuler drove her minivan in the wrong direction on the Taconic State Parkway, resulting in a catastrophic collision with an SUV that killed herself, her daughter, three nieces, and three people in the other vehicle.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
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Anywhere some of those choices turn out to be catastrophic mistakes.—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruinous. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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