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
South Florida was left in ruins, as were the fortunes of countless small investors who’d staked their dreams on their own little piece of it.
—
Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
An Israeli siege left Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City – the largest in the territory – in ruins last year.
—Abeer Salman, Dana Karni, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025
The war has left most of Gaza in ruins, and at its height displaced around 90% of the population.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Across the street, the gymnasium of a school lay in ruins, its roof and front wall torn away, leaving the interior exposed.
—Robert Shackelford, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in ruins
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025
An Israeli siege left Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City – the largest in the territory – in ruins last year.
—Abeer Salman, Dana Karni, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025
The war has left most of Gaza in ruins, and at its height displaced around 90% of the population.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Across the street, the gymnasium of a school lay in ruins, its roof and front wall torn away, leaving the interior exposed.
—Robert Shackelford, CNN, 17 Mar. 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 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share