rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryruinousCausing severe harm
adjective

ruinous

ROO-ih-nus/ˈruːɪnəs/

Causing severe damage or loss.

The ruinous flood destroys the shop's merchandise and damages its structure.

Severe flood tears through a small shop, destroying merchandise and structure, no people injured.
Etymology
ruinLatincollapse, downfall
+ousLatincharacterized by

Built on ruina, “collapse,” ruinous first described something falling into ruin. Its meaning shifted from suffering destruction to causing it, including bringing severe financial loss.

In context

Vivid Audio Library166:57
wicked and ruinous as it must be. A destroyer of my tenderest hopes, my dearest schemes
The Ordeal of Richard Feverel by George Meredith (Part 2) | Full Classic Victorian Novel Audiobook

More examples

  • A prolonged drought can have ruinous effects on small farms.
  • The lawsuit proved ruinous to her business.
  • He borrows money at a ruinous interest rate.

Forms

ruinous

ruin verb — To damage severely or destroy completely.

ruinously adverb — In a way that causes severe loss.

Similar words

devastating
Emphasizes overwhelming harm, often including deep emotional suffering.
destructive
Emphasizes damaging or destroying things, not necessarily financial loss.