ruinous
gb/ɹˈuɪnəs/ us/ɹˈuɪnəs/
B2
English
~ 9500
pusztító, katasztrofális, anyagilag megterhelő, romos
C1
FORMAL
1
pusztító
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is ruinous to [something]
Experts warned that cutting funding so quickly could be ruinous to the public health system.
The war had a ruinous impact on the country’s economy and infrastructure.
His refusal to adapt to new technology proved ruinous for the company.
Intensive farming practices can be ruinous to local wildlife.
Trying to hide the problem was a ruinous mistake for their reputation.
Learner examples
Smoking can be ruinous to your health.
A long drought was ruinous to the farmers.
The new law may be ruinous for small shops.
His anger was ruinous to his relationships.
Bad online reviews were ruinous to the hotel’s business.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'ruinous' with 'ruined'. 'Ruinous' describes something that causes great harm (a ruinous policy, a ruinous mistake), while 'ruined' describes something that has already been destroyed or badly damaged (a ruined city, a ruined cake). They also overuse it in casual speech, where 'very harmful' or 'terrible' may sound more natural.
Meaning
causing severe damage or destruction
Collocations
ruinous effects
|ruinous consequences
|ruinous policies
|ruinous decision
|prove ruinous
|ruinous to [something]
Synonyms
disastrous (Stresses a very bad result; slightly more general and a bit less formal than 'ruinous'.)
Antonyms
beneficial (Describes something that produces good, helpful effects instead of serious harm.)
Themes
economy
|politics
|environment
|daily life
|nature
Definition
causing very serious harm or damage, sometimes destroying something completely over time.
Causing very serious harm, damage, or destruction, often with long‑lasting or complete negative effects.
B2
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
[cost or price] is ruinous for [someone]
They faced ruinous medical bills after the accident.
A baleset után hatalmas, anyagilag megterhelő orvosi számlákkal szembesültek.
The interest on that credit card is ruinous for low‑income families.
Annak a hitelkártyának a kamata súlyos anyagi terhet jelent az alacsony jövedelmű családok számára.
Many young people are trapped by ruinous student loan debt.
The repairs came at a ruinous cost that nearly bankrupted the business.
Living in the city center can be ruinous if you are on a modest salary.
Learner examples
The hotel was nice, but the price was ruinous.
A szálloda szép volt, de az ára megfizethetetlenül magas volt.
He took a loan at a ruinous interest rate.
Olyan kölcsönt vett fel, amelynek a kamata anyagilag nagyon megterhelő volt.
Her illness led to ruinous health costs for the family.
Paying this rent would be ruinous for me.
The fine was ruinous for such a small company.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'ruinous' to mean simply 'very expensive' in everyday, light situations (e.g., a pricey coffee). In English, 'ruinous' normally suggests serious financial harm, not just something a bit overpriced.
Meaning
extremely expensive; financially destructive
Collocations
ruinous cost
|ruinous price
|ruinous rent
|ruinous medical bills
|ruinous interest rates
|financially ruinous
Synonyms
exorbitant (Focuses more narrowly on an unreasonably high price; 'ruinous' emphasizes the damaging effect on finances.)
Antonyms
affordable (Describes a price that people can pay without serious financial difficulty, the opposite of 'ruinous' cost.)
Themes
economy
|money
|daily life
|finance
|business
Definition
so expensive that it can badly damage your money situation or even make you lose everything.
Extremely expensive in a way that seriously harms someone’s finances or could lead to financial ruin.
C1
LITERARY
3
romos
B1
Usage pattern:
[building or structure] is in a ruinous state
They camped beside a ruinous farmhouse on the edge of the field.
A mező szélén álló romos parasztház mellett táboroztak.
The castle, once proud, now stood in a ruinous state above the village.
Az egykor büszke kastély most romos állapotban magasodott a falu fölé.
Investors refused to buy the ruinous property without a full structural survey.
A single ruinous tower remained of what had been a grand cathedral.
Tourists wandered through the ruinous streets of the abandoned mining town.
Learner examples
The old house was ruinous and empty.
A régi ház romos és üres volt.
We walked past a ruinous church in the countryside.
Vidéken egy romos templom mellett sétáltunk el.
He bought a ruinous building and plans to fix it.
Only a ruinous stone wall was left.
The hotel is new, but the shops around it are ruinous.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is common in everyday speech. In modern English, people more often say 'falling down', 'run‑down', or 'in ruins'; 'ruinous' here is mostly written or literary.
Meaning
in a state of ruin
Collocations
ruinous building
|ruinous state
|ruinous condition
|ruinous castle
|ruinous walls
|left in a ruinous state
Synonyms
dilapidated (Very close in meaning but slightly more common in everyday description of old, badly kept buildings.)
Antonyms
well-maintained (Describes a building kept in good condition, the opposite of a 'ruinous' structure.)
Themes
architecture
|history
|travel
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
in very bad physical condition, broken or falling down, often about an old building.
In a state of severe physical decay or destruction, often referring to buildings or structures that are partly destroyed and poorly maintained.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ruinous
IPA
GB/ɹˈuɪnəs/
US/ɹˈuɪnəs/
Syllables & stress
ru - in - ous (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ru)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: ruinous
Word family
Expressions
at a ruinous rate
1/ˈæt ə ɹˈuɪnəs ɹˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
formal
happening dangerously fast or costly
happening very fast in a way that causes a lot of damage or costs a lot of money.
Examples
- The company was losing customers at a ruinous rate.
- Prices are rising at a ruinous rate for many families.
be ruinous to
1/bˈi ɹˈuɪnəs tə/
fixed phrase
formal
cause very serious harm to
to be very bad for something and cause great damage to it, possibly destroying it over time.
Examples
- Delaying action on climate change could be ruinous to future generations.
- Cutting training budgets may be ruinous to the long‑term success of the company.