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 With his resignation, Starmer becomes the sixth British prime minister to resign since the seismic, and ultimately ruinous, Brexit referendum vote on June 2016. — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026 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 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

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

These are the glimmers of something in the fringes that keep The Cherry Orchard, even in our age of jonesing to burn it all down, so miraculously delicate and devastating.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
The survival thriller, directed by David Ayer, follows a Special Forces officer and his combat dog who, after a devastating plane crash, get stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness.

— Angelique Jackson, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of devastating

Adjective

That is until his young niece and nephew are kidnapped at a birthday party following the fatal shooting of his diplomat brother and the latter’s wife (Constanza Andrade).

— Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
Boeing admitted responsibility for the fatal crashes and that its employees withheld information about the design flaw from the Federal Aviation Administration during certification.

— Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 14 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

There were also calls for Congressional oversight hearings on AI’s catastrophic risks.

— Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged Washington to stop expanding its military footprint off the planet, warning against a catastrophic space arms race.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 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 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of ruinous

adjective

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