1
2
: causing or tending to cause ruin
ruinously
adverb
ruinousness
noun
Examples of ruinous in a Sentence
The house has fallen into a ruinous state.
a ruinous miscalculation of the financial markets left them bankrupt
Recent Examples on the Web
The bottom line is that this can be financially ruinous for companies, especially small businesses just trying to deliver for their customers.
—
Javed Hasan, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Dion’s sultry, sweeping vocals atop the intense tin-whistles and violins crash in the ears like ruinous waves.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 12 Feb. 2025
The practice is now impeded by ever more protective drone squadrons of P.R. people, although Prince Andrew’s ruinous television interview is a prime example—the disingenuous reporter meets the insufficiently self-aware subject, and blood is spilled.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
To make matters worse, the data centers required to keep it online consume environmentally ruinous amounts of water and electricity.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
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Javed Hasan, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
Dion’s sultry, sweeping vocals atop the intense tin-whistles and violins crash in the ears like ruinous waves.
—Spin Contributor, SPIN, 12 Feb. 2025
The practice is now impeded by ever more protective drone squadrons of P.R. people, although Prince Andrew’s ruinous television interview is a prime example—the disingenuous reporter meets the insufficiently self-aware subject, and blood is spilled.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
To make matters worse, the data centers required to keep it online consume environmentally ruinous amounts of water and electricity.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 25 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Cite this Entry
“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruinous. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ruinous
adjective
ru·in·ous
ˈrü-ə-nəs 
: causing or tending to cause ruin : destructive
ruinously
adverb
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