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
Strategic Realignment in the Caucasus Russia's credibility as a security guarantor in the South Caucasus lies in ruins.
—
Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Some tens of thousands of Ukrainians have perished over the past three years, including more than ten thousand civilians; their country lies in ruins.
—Samuel Moyn, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
The Israeli military campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed around 58,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians according to health officials, displaced almost the entire population and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis, leaving much of the territory in ruins.
—Hussam Al-Masri, USA Today, 19 July 2025
The fighting has left the coastal Palestinian territory in ruins, with much of the urban landscape flattened in the fighting.
—Bassem Mroue, Chicago Tribune, 2 July 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.
Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Some tens of thousands of Ukrainians have perished over the past three years, including more than ten thousand civilians; their country lies in ruins.
—Samuel Moyn, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
The Israeli military campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed around 58,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians according to health officials, displaced almost the entire population and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis, leaving much of the territory in ruins.
—Hussam Al-Masri, USA Today, 19 July 2025
The fighting has left the coastal Palestinian territory in ruins, with much of the urban landscape flattened in the fighting.
—Bassem Mroue, Chicago Tribune, 2 July 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 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share