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 radiation effects have been ruinous, according to US government reports cited by the Atomic Heritage Foundation, which said the testing was responsible for 55% of cancers on some of the islands’ northern atolls.
—
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
There’s nothing ruinous about October’s viewership numbers.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Between Helm’s clouds is a ruinous, wrathful force where everything is cunted.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
The ceasefire marks a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, reduced much of Gaza to rubble, destabilized the Middle East, and left dozens of hostages, living and dead, in the territory.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2025
There’s nothing ruinous about October’s viewership numbers.
—Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Between Helm’s clouds is a ruinous, wrathful force where everything is cunted.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
The ceasefire marks a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, reduced much of Gaza to rubble, destabilized the Middle East, and left dozens of hostages, living and dead, in the territory.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruinous
Adjective
-
The Chargers’ $262 million man fell to 0-3 in the playoffs, each of those defeats distinctly disastrous.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Purdy, rendered ineffective by a torn ligament in his right elbow on the opening drive against the Eagles in a disastrous NFC title game loss three seasons ago, completed all three passes for 74 yards and capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson.—
Dan Gelston,
Twin Cities,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This book is totally devastating.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
George Kittle’s Achilles had popped, a devastating blow to the soul of the roster.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Several hundred protesters gathered at First Ward Park on Thursday night in response to Wednesday’s fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
-
John Mulaney has postponed three upcoming shows in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.—
Amy McCarthy,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
So there needed to be a balance of location that allowed for maritime travel and protection from the potential damage caused by piracy, invasions and the equally destructive power of storms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
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The large fires in Eaton and Palisades, California were the second- and third-most destructive in California history.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Their late concession of the winning penalty to Morgan Gibbs-White, above, was unfortunate.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Many unfortunate events were blamed on poison—the unexpected death of an enslaver or a slave, a spate of local deaths due to a virus or other disease, or problems on the plantation such as ill livestock or bad harvests.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Minutes away from his position in Arcadia, reports indicated a fire had started in approximately the same place where, in 1993, another fire had brought about catastrophic consequences.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Stand looking out from the wide intersection of East Mariposa Street and Lake Avenue for one potent, representative view of Altadena a year after the catastrophic Eaton fire.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruinous. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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