ruinous Definition
ru·in·ous (ro̵̅o̅′ə nəs)
adjective
- falling or fallen into ruin; dilapidated; decayed
- bringing or tending to bring ruin; very destructive or harmful; disastrous ruinous floods
Etymology: ME ruinouse < L ruinosus
ruinous Related Forms
ru′·in·ously adverb
ru′·in·ous·ness noun
ruinous Synonyms
ruinous
modif.
Destructive
pernicious, calamitous, disastrous; see destructive 2, harmful.Leading to bankruptcy
unfortunate, rash, speculative, suicidal, fatal, impoverishing, pauperizing, exhausting, draining, depleting, bringing to want, reducing to penury.
ruinous Usage Examples
Modifying Another Word
- potentially: But for the biggest, potentially ruinous, buys of our lives, most of us are poorly advised lambs ready to be fleeced.
- largely: Now largely ruinous, the south gate still shows the slot for the portcullis on the west side.
- very: There is a clear entrance, flanked by an outer protective work, now very ruinous.
- so: A structure in the countryside that is so ruinous that it has to be substantially or entirely re-built will not be suitable.
- now: Toward Castle The castle now ruinous was the principal castle of the Lamont family.
- almost: By 1887 the church was in an almost ruinous condition.
Preposition: for
country: Its professed aim is to save the environment, but its practical effect in many instances may be ruinous for poor countries.
Modifies a noun
- castle: In Leland's time, Appleby " was but a poor village, having a ruinous castle, wherein the prisoners were kept.
- state: The castle could have given them no shelter being in its ruinous state.
- war: Iraq and Iran blame each other for their ruinous war and each sees the outcome as a victory.
- condition: By 1887 the church was in an almost ruinous condition.
- competition: It is the opposite of Oxfam's emphasis on the path of ruinous competition between countries seeking market access.
- building: The inner court contains a range of ruinous buildings dating from the 12th to the 16th century, including Leicester's Building.
Used with adjective complement
Browse dictionary entries near ruinous

