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
Notably, season 2 concludes with the Shibuya Incident, an event that left Tokyo in ruins and resulted in cursed spirits killing civilians across the city, according to Crunchyroll.
—
Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Venezuela’s infrastructure is already in ruins.
—Monica Duffy Toft, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
The small business is now in ruins.
—Eva Andersen, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Its hospital, courthouse, churches and historic buildings were severely damaged or destroyed as storm surges and 185-mile-per-hour winds ripped off roofs, knocked out the power grid and left much of the town in ruins.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in ruins
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Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
Venezuela’s infrastructure is already in ruins.
—Monica Duffy Toft, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
The small business is now in ruins.
—Eva Andersen, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Its hospital, courthouse, churches and historic buildings were severely damaged or destroyed as storm surges and 185-mile-per-hour winds ripped off roofs, knocked out the power grid and left much of the town in ruins.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 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 12 Jan. 2026.
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