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
The main commercial district, State Street, was in ruins.
—
Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
The city of Cambrai was in ruins, houses destroyed and deceased inhabitants still underneath the ruins after months.
—Amy Sohn, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Despite their successes, Capriles said their society collapsed around 1000 C.E. and was already in ruins when the Incas arrived.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 25 June 2025
They will be distressed that the vaunted atomic program that cost billions of dollars is now in ruins.
—Eric Edelman, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for in ruins
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Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
The city of Cambrai was in ruins, houses destroyed and deceased inhabitants still underneath the ruins after months.
—Amy Sohn, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Despite their successes, Capriles said their society collapsed around 1000 C.E. and was already in ruins when the Incas arrived.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 25 June 2025
They will be distressed that the vaunted atomic program that cost billions of dollars is now in ruins.
—Eric Edelman, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 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 10 Jul. 2025.
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