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   Ru·in·ous

   /ˈro͞oənəs/

   

   adjective

   • 1. disastrous or destructive: "a ruinous effect on the environment" Similar disastrousdevastatingcatastrophiccalamitouscataclysmiccripplingcrushingdireinjuriousdamagingdestructiveharmfulcostlyOpposite beneficial
   • ▪ costing far more than can be afforded: "the cost of their ransom might be ruinous" Similar extortionateexorbitantexcessively highsky-highoutrageousinflatedmore than can be affordedover the oddsinformal:criminalsteep
   • 2. in ruins; dilapidated: "the castle is ruinous" Similar derelictin ruinsruinedgone to rack and ruindilapidatedtumbledownramshacklebroken-downdecrepitin disrepairfalling to piecesfalling apartcrumblingdecayingdisintegratingneglecteduncared-forinformal:shamblyshackyOpposite intactwell maintained

   Word Origin late Middle English (also in the sense ‘falling down’): from Latin ruinosus, from ruina (see ruin).

   Derivatives

   • 1. ruinously adverb
   • 2. ruinousness noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

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   • N

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