Definitions

ruinous

[roo-uh-nuhs] / ˈru ə nəs /

ADJECTIVE

disastrous, devastating

Synonyms

STRONGEST

calamitous cataclysmic catastrophic crippling damaging deadly dire fatal harmful hurtful murderous pernicious

WEAK

annihilative baleful baneful deleterious depleting draining exhausting extravagant fateful immoderate impoverishing injurious noxious shattering suicidal unfortunate wasteful withering wrackful

Antonyms

STRONGEST

favorable fortunate harmless healthful helpful kind nice trivial unimportant wholesome

WEAK

advantageous assisting beneficial

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The joint amicus brief called the department labelling Anthropic a risk "a potentially ruinous sanction" for businesses and little more than a "temper tantrum".

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

That’s how fast it is supposed to be able to grow without stoking ruinous inflation.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 20, 2026

Ye ran through the ruinous effects of his injury and subsequent diagnosis, saying it caused him to avoid seeking the help he needed.

From Salon • Jan. 26, 2026

Starting over elsewhere becomes a financially ruinous proposition.

From Slate • Nov. 4, 2025

We will learn every lesson of accent and idiom, we will dismantle every last pretense and practice you hold, noble as well as ruinous.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Vocabulary lists containing ruinous

Hamilton

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30 GRE Words Beginning with "Q" "R" and "S"

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Dubliners

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