in ruins

phrase

: destroyed with some pieces or parts remaining

The building was/lay in ruins.

—sometimes used figuratively

After her death, the family was in ruins.

Examples of in ruins in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1592, however, it was destroyed during the Imjin War and remained in ruins until its restoration in 1867. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 12 July 2026

The nearly 14-year civil war in Syria killed nearly half a million people and displaced millions, leaving much devastation and infrastructure in ruins. — ABC News, 9 July 2026

Syria has managed to sidestep the region’s recent conflicts, but the country is still battered from 13 years of war that left much of it in ruins, drove millions into poverty, and will cost hundreds of billions of dollars to rebuild. — Ghaith Alsayed, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Rhymes for in ruins

• bruins
• gluons