Standard Lemma guide

ruinously

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

adv

Meaning 1

in a way that will cause ruin

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The ruinously high interest we agreed to will bankrupt us in a year if the economy doesn't improve quickly.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in a ruinous manner or to a ruinous degree

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • ruinously high wages

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English ruinous Middle English -ly English -ly English ruinously From ruinous + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: ruineusement — in a way that will cause ruin
  • Georgian: დამღუპველად (damɣuṗvelad) — in a way that will cause ruin
  • Italian: rovinosamente — in a way that will cause ruin
  • Italian: esizialmente — in a way that will cause ruin
  • Norman: ruinneusement — in a way that will cause ruin
  • Serbo-Croatian: у̏битачно — in a way that will cause ruin
  • Serbo-Croatian: ру̀шилачки — in a way that will cause ruin
  • Serbo-Croatian: ȕbitačno — in a way that will cause ruin
  • Serbo-Croatian: rùšilački — in a way that will cause ruin