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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruinous
The row over reparations threatened to overshadow a summit that Pacific leaders — and the Commonwealth secretariat — hoped would focus squarely on the ruinous effects of climate change.
—
Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Charlotte Graham-McLay, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
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
See All Example Sentences for ruinous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruinous
Adjective
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Kraven, even if audiences didn’t mind it, earned $61 million worldwide, a figure beyond disastrous and what led in part to the shutdown of this Sinister Six-ish collection of films that also included Morbius, with others planned in the future.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
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Three campaigns stand out — one weirdly funny, one weirdly disastrous and one weirdly endearing.—
Steven Hyden,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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His defensive partner Cam Fowler called the injury devastating.—
Jeremy Rutherford,
The Athletic,
7 Mar. 2025
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One player tries to make a big move, only to watch that move ricochet in devastating fashion.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Gordon Cordeiro had his freedom secured on Friday after a judge ordered him released in light of new DNA evidence that led to the overturning of his conviction in the 1994 fatal shooting of Timothy Blaisdell on the island of Maui.—
Landon Mion,
Fox News,
23 Feb. 2025
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Mangione is facing several charges, including murder and terrorism, across three different jurisdictions in connection with Thompson's fatal shooting outside a Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4.—
Elizabeth Rosner,
People.com,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Among filmmakers, it was seen as a potentially destructive maneuver—the silver left on the negative could damage it over time.—
Stephania Taladrid,
The New Yorker,
27 Feb. 2025
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The problem is that this will require Trump to consistently channel his best geopolitical instincts when he will be sorely tempted to follow his most destructive ones instead.—
HAL BRANDS,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Christie suffered from acute seasickness, unfortunate considering her trips to each continent were by ship.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2025
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On Monday evening, within hours of learning of the directive, some state workers called the order stupid and unfortunate.—
William Melhado,
Sacramento Bee,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruinous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruinous. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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