1
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
a ruinous miscalculation of the financial markets left them bankrupt
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2
as in devastating
causing or tending to cause destruction
a ruinous windstorm destroyed the crops
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Recent Examples of ruinous
Much as Israel’s efforts to eliminate Hamas have been ruinous for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, Israel appears to be conducting its operations in Lebanon with little concern for the harm to civilian populations or infrastructure.
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Mohanad Hage Ali, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024
Hamilton’s ruinous reign in the early 2000s had almost left the club homeless.
—Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 16 Aug. 2024
So bad his preference for ruinous eternal companions was a primary source of dramatic tension in Interview With the Vampire’s bold second season, featuring Assad Zaman’s Armand, a bad boyfriend for the ages.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 July 2024
The financial domain could be monetarily ruinous to someone.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ruinous 
Mohanad Hage Ali, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2024
Hamilton’s ruinous reign in the early 2000s had almost left the club homeless.
—Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 16 Aug. 2024
So bad his preference for ruinous eternal companions was a primary source of dramatic tension in Interview With the Vampire’s bold second season, featuring Assad Zaman’s Armand, a bad boyfriend for the ages.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 July 2024
The financial domain could be monetarily ruinous to someone.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ruinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruinous
Adjective
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While Norris and Piastri scored points regularly, Red Bull’s defense of its title was hampered by Sergio Perez’s disastrous form, with the Mexican’s last podium coming in the sprint race in Miami.Dan Cancian, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
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But the film’s poisonous reviews and disastrous box office all but torpedoed her Oscar hopes this year, and the film was shut out in Monday’s Globe nominations.Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This social isolation and loss of support – even from close friends and family members – is a devastating and often unrecognized side effect of the disease.Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
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The Dalan vaccine defends against a devastating bacterial disease aptly named American Foulbrood, and Kleiser sees it as a first step toward keeping the roughly 3 million honeybee colonies in the U.S. healthy.Amy Feldman, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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According to Kenny, the gunman was finally seen entering a cab that dropped him off near the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal at 178th St and Broadway — his last known location — around 7:30 a.m., just 45 minutes after the fatal shooting.Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 7 Dec. 2024
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This week’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Brian Thompson has unleashed a wave of public feeling — exasperation, anger, resentment, helplessness — from Americans sharing personal stories of interactions with insurance companies, often seen as faceless corporate giants.Tom Murphy and Devi Shastri, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But the end of Kings of Tupelo demonstrates once again how destructive—and addictive—the pull of conspiracy theories can be.Barry Levitt, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
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To be sure, there’s no need to cross the line and be complicit in any antisocial, unethical, or destructive behaviors.Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Absentees from injury are unfortunate, suspensions less so.Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
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The unfortunate trend is certainly concerning for a Lions team that is hoping to make a deep playoff run.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ruinous
Cite this Entry
“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruinous. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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