1
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
a ruinous miscalculation of the financial markets left them bankrupt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
An awards-campaign strategist highlights the ruinous economics a cancellation would present to both the Academy and the myriad vendors, hair and makeup professionals, limo drivers, event planners, and caterers whose livelihoods are directly staked upon Oscars business as usual.
—
Chris Lee, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
Melania Trump is praying for Californians affected by the ruinous wildfires ripping across the Golden State.
—Luke Gentile, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
The final ingredient, which elevated the winds and wildfires from risky to ruinous, was a low-pressure system spinning up over the Gulf of California.
—Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
But government regulations are forcing brands like Dodge to either evolve or face ruinous fines, which means no more V8 Hellcats or Demons.
—Karl Brauer, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ruinous 
Chris Lee, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
Melania Trump is praying for Californians affected by the ruinous wildfires ripping across the Golden State.
—Luke Gentile, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
The final ingredient, which elevated the winds and wildfires from risky to ruinous, was a low-pressure system spinning up over the Gulf of California.
—Ned Kleiner, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
But government regulations are forcing brands like Dodge to either evolve or face ruinous fines, which means no more V8 Hellcats or Demons.
—Karl Brauer, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ruinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruinous
Adjective
-
Which one among them wins is going to depend heavily on who gets hot come the playoffs and who can best avoid disastrous results.—
Jeff Gluck,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Gloria’s decision not to pay for an independent evaluation of warehouse health risks — in a city reeling from its disastrous acquisition of an uninhabitable Ash Street office tower — wasn’t just surprising.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
After seeing the devastating impact of the 1918 pandemic on the nation’s soldiers and sailors, officials prioritized protecting the military from influenza.—
Alexandra M. Lord,
CNN,
9 Feb. 2025
-
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images President Donald Trump's freeze of U.S. foreign humanitarian aid and shuttering of the U.S. Agency for International Development is having devastating consequences globally, several humanitarian nongovernmental organization leaders told ABC News.—
Julia Cherner,
ABC News,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
For Matias and Rafael the risk is that this will prove to be a fatal attraction though.—
Georg Szalai,
The Hollywood Reporter,
10 Feb. 2025
-
The Traffic Investigation Unit is looking into the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident, police said.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Standard treatments, while often effective, can be destructive for people with decades of life ahead of them, potentially leading to life-altering physical changes, like permanently needing a colostomy bag or enduring early menopause and infertility.—
Jamie Ducharme,
TIME,
13 Feb. 2025
-
Her research studies behavioral ethics, workplace exclusion, and destructive and conflictive work behavior and relationships.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
While injuries are always unfortunate, Lee’s absence should benefit a Horned Frogs team that struggled with Iowa State’s frontcourt on Sunday.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Feb. 2025
-
Over those few unfortunate seconds for Bills left guard David Edwards, Jones provided yet another vivid example of why he’s been a first team All-Pro for three years in a row.—
Dave Campbell,
Twin Cities,
3 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near ruinous
Cite this Entry
“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruinous. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share