in ruins
idiom
: destroyed with some pieces or parts remaining
The building was/lay in ruins.
—sometimes used figurativelyAfter her death, the family was in ruins.
Examples of in ruins in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ali was killed by Israel in January 2024 at the gate of al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, and my world has been in ruins since.
—
Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
Once deemed one of the richest countries in Latin America, Venezuela today is among the poorest, its economy left in ruins by decades of runaway corruption.
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
But after the villainous Vecna opened up gates to a treacherous parallel universe called the Upside Down in Stranger Things’ fourth season, Hawkins was left in ruins.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
But all of this will be extremely difficult in a place where most health-care facilities are in ruins.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in ruins
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Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
Once deemed one of the richest countries in Latin America, Venezuela today is among the poorest, its economy left in ruins by decades of runaway corruption.
—Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
But after the villainous Vecna opened up gates to a treacherous parallel universe called the Upside Down in Stranger Things’ fourth season, Hawkins was left in ruins.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
But all of this will be extremely difficult in a place where most health-care facilities are in ruins.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in ruins
Cite this Entry
“In ruins.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20ruins. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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