It can only be effected at a ruinous cost of death, disease, poverty, and misery.

We must infer that the ends of thought were peremptory, if they were to be secured at such ruinous cost.

She was held fast by her treaty with Austria and at ruinous cost was ever sending more and more troops to help Austria against Prussia.

A lawsuit in New France did not bring ruinous costs.

"We can," Wagoner said, "but only at ruinous cost.