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
After the end of World War II, the Reichstag found itself in a ruinous state in West Berlin.
—
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 Sep. 2025
That could be ruinous to a sector which has been in decline for decades.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 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
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 Sep. 2025
That could be ruinous to a sector which has been in decline for decades.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 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
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Any such move before elections would likely be disastrous for Milei.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
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Finally, as ever, the potential for rash, impulsive decisions with disastrous long-term consequences is never out of mind with this franchise.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Just in the past two winters, deceptively average rain and snowfall totals statewide masked the extremely dry conditions in Southern California that contributed to devastating fires as well as flood events across the state from powerful atmospheric river events.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
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The devastating military campaign has flattened large swaths of Gaza, displacing thousands of Gazans and sparking a humanitarian crisis and intensifying international backlash.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The illness is rarely fatal, and most patients recover within a week, though some may experience persistent joint pain, authorities continued.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
15 Oct. 2025
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Early intervention While uterine cancer can be fatal, an early diagnosis means potentially faster treatment and better outcomes.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Feral pigs have earned a reputation as one of the nation’s most destructive invasive species.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Hawke sells all of Hart’s delusions, destructive impulses, and high-velocity downward spirals with an energy that keeps this bitchy, old-school collection of bon mots and screwball bickering moving along nicely.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As Yassir Zabiri flung his boot in the air, the ball bounced off the unfortunate Joshua Wynder and into his own net.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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Tight end Orande Gadsden had a very unfortunate early fumble, resulting in a long touchdown run.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Mineral wealth such as gold offers one solution—though diverting labor and resources from more sustainable industries could prove catastrophic if prices suddenly drop.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
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This event might have been quick and catastrophic, causing a misalignment of the protoplanetary disk with the star.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruinous. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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