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
Seeing Gaza in ruins has redoubled my determination to do two things.
—
Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2025
With most of Gaza’s hospitals in ruins, thousands of children critically injured in the conflict are waiting for permission to be medically evacuated.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
William McKay, his career is in ruins after a shocking betrayal, joins his estranged father for a fishing tournament in Belize.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
With their houses in ruins, many people were living in the open amid a fear of aftershocks, Noorzai added.
—Mohammad Yunus Yawar, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in ruins
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Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2025
With most of Gaza’s hospitals in ruins, thousands of children critically injured in the conflict are waiting for permission to be medically evacuated.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
William McKay, his career is in ruins after a shocking betrayal, joins his estranged father for a fishing tournament in Belize.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
With their houses in ruins, many people were living in the open amid a fear of aftershocks, Noorzai added.
—Mohammad Yunus Yawar, USA Today, 2 Sep. 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 7 Oct. 2025.
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