ruinous /ˈɹuː.ɪnəs/ adjective3 •Causing ruin; destructive, calamitous. •Extremely costly; so expensive as to cause financial ruin.They were forced to completely replace the roof at ruinous expense. •Characterized by ruin; ruined; dilapidated; as, an edifice, bridge, or wall in a ruinous state. formsmore ruinous · most ruinous