ruinous

adjective

ru·​in·​ous ˈrü-ə-nəs 

1

: dilapidated, ruined

2

: causing or tending to cause ruin

ruinously adverb

ruinousness noun

Synonyms

• calamitous
• cataclysmal
• cataclysmic
• catastrophic
• damning
• destructive
• disastrous
• fatal
• fateful
• unfortunate

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

While the scourge of blood diamonds has been well-documented (and immortalized by the 2006 Leonardo DiCaprio film), the role of blood gold is more insidious but no less ruinous. —Charlie Campbell / Dubai, TIME, 29 Nov. 2024

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. —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

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ruinous

adjective

ru·​in·​ous ˈrü-ə-nəs 

: causing or tending to cause ruin : destructive

ruinously adverb