ruinous Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite extremely harmful; bringing physical or financial ruin
    catastrophic.
    • a catastrophic depression
    • catastrophic illness
    • a ruinous course of action
  2. adjective satellite causing injury or blight; especially affecting with sudden violence or plague or ruin
    blasting.
    • the blasting effects of the intense cold on the budding fruit
    • the blasting force of the wind blowing sharp needles of sleet in our faces
    • a ruinous war

WordNet

Ru"in*ous adjective
Etymology
L. ruinosus: cf. F. ruineux. See Ruin.
Definitions
  1. Causing, or tending to cause, ruin; destructive; baneful; pernicious; as, a ruinous project.
    After a night of storm so ruinous. Milton.
  2. Characterized by ruin; ruined; dilapidated; as, an edifice, bridge, or wall in a ruinous state.
  3. Composed of, or consisting in, ruins.
    Behold, Damascus . . . shall be a ruinous heap. Isa. xvii. 1.
    Syn. -- Dilapidated; decayed; demolished; pernicious; destructive; baneful; wasteful; mischievous. -- Ru"in*ous*ly adv. -- Ru"in*ous*ness, n.

Webster 1913