ruinous

adjective

ˈrü-ə-nəs How to pronounce ruinous (audio)
Definition of ruinousnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Distracting people from a ruinous war and domestic unrest with bread and circuses isn’t new. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruinous
  1. disastrous
  2. devastating
  3. fatal
  4. destructive
  5. unfortunate
  6. catastrophic
Adjective
  • The disastrous late-August flash flooding near Phantom Ranch struck below the burn scar left by that blaze, the National Weather Service said.
    — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The bill for the disastrous Leonard era now includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — the reigning, two-time MVP — 10 first-round picks and two additional pick swaps.
    — Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of disastrous
Adjective
  • Here are a few of the fronts on which that undeclared war is being fought, with devastating consequences for the next generation of Americans.
    — David Wippman, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Twenty-five years after the devastating terror attacks, the retired Bountiful, Utah, resident still carries the memories of that day ​— not only the fear and uncertainty, but also the camaraderie and grief shared by those around him.
    — Kaanita Iyer, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of devastating
Adjective
  • Their defensive line flipped from fatal flaw to deep, disruptive chaos agent.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Authorities have identified the victim and suspect in a recent fatal Rosemont shooting that led to a three-hour standoff with Sheriff’s Deputies.
    — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of fatal
Adjective
  • Large, destructive waves and life-threatening rip currents are forecast across many Hawaiian shorelines during the next several days.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
  • America’s sense of security was smashed with apocalyptic fury Tuesday when the most destructive and meticulously planned terror attack in history shattered two of the country’s most potent symbols.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of destructive
Adjective
  • That is the unfortunate part of a tenure full of expansion, media-rights billions and two transformational collective bargaining agreements.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Moore and his allies are presenting gerrymandering as an unfortunate response to an acute political crisis, but trying to gerrymander Maryland in favor of Democrats is far from a new effort.
    — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • The dependency is often invisible in normal times but could be catastrophic in a crisis.
    — Sajal Singh, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Not just any bill, but this year’s biggest in the state Legislature, dealing with catastrophic wildfires, arguably the state’s most perilous problem.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of catastrophic

Browse Nearby Words

ruining
ruinous
ruins
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Cite this Entry

“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruinous. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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