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
But in the absence of stable governance and effective regulations since the 1991 civil war, foreign fishing trawlers have deployed ruinous techniques to exploit the rich fishing environment.
—
Soham Mitra, Lou Robinson and Patrick Gallagher, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
Wielding the language of liberal internationalism to justify ruinous intervention abroad has long been the modus operandi of the neoconservatives, who, since the ascendancy of Trump over the Republican Party, have gravitated back to their original home among the Democrats.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
Sudan: The Rapid Support Forces, the paramilitary group battling for power in the nation’s ruinous civil war, announced plans to form a breakaway government.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
For typical investors, such high leverage can be ruinous.
—Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Soham Mitra, Lou Robinson and Patrick Gallagher, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
Wielding the language of liberal internationalism to justify ruinous intervention abroad has long been the modus operandi of the neoconservatives, who, since the ascendancy of Trump over the Republican Party, have gravitated back to their original home among the Democrats.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
Sudan: The Rapid Support Forces, the paramilitary group battling for power in the nation’s ruinous civil war, announced plans to form a breakaway government.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
For typical investors, such high leverage can be ruinous.
—Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruinous
Adjective
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Mannes said the compromise child care bill could have disastrous implications.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 2025
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Economists and experts in foreign policy, trade, and business are warning that this approach could be disastrous and potentially land the country in significant stagflation, in which the economy would see a major slowdown, inflation would rise, and unemployment might also head upward.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In my client’s case, DCF’s cruel response to the OCA report was devastating and has caused her tremendous grief.—
Nate Baber,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2025
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Those 100-mph-plus winds from Hurricane Milton were devastating.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That is known as meconium aspiration syndrome – a potentially fatal condition that occurs in 5% to 10% of births but is treatable if diagnosed in time.—
Khwaga Ghani,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2025
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The ordeal ended with the fatal exchange of gunfire about 9:50 p.m., more than five hours after the first call to deputies.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Climate change’s role Hurricanes are a far more destructive force in Florida than wildfires, which destroy many more properties in western states than in the Sunshine State.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
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Present bias is the trait of being unable to muster the willpower to avoid destructive buy now, pay later behavior.—
Hersh Shefrin,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Here at home, extreme weather exacerbated by climate change is having many unfortunate impacts on our lives, from farmers losing crops to devastating floods, brush fires, and high heat days.—
Michael Leone,
Hartford Courant,
28 Mar. 2025
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Viet and Nam try to make sense of the tragic deaths of unfortunate people like Nam’s father, while their film namesake also attempts to do similar for people like those who have perished when attempting to find a new life.—
Josh Slater-Williams,
IndieWire,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruinous. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
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