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
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
The Atlanta Constitution was founded in 1868, only a few years after the Civil War left Atlanta in ruins.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
Increasingly, Israel’s onslaught on Gaza – which to date has killed at least 62,000 people, around half of whom are women and children, and left 70% of the strip in ruins – is being viewed through a critical lens.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 23 Aug. 2025
In the aftermath of the Eaton fire in January, much of Altadena was left in ruins.
—Jill Cowan, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in ruins
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Mohammad Yunus Yawar, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
The Atlanta Constitution was founded in 1868, only a few years after the Civil War left Atlanta in ruins.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2025
Increasingly, Israel’s onslaught on Gaza – which to date has killed at least 62,000 people, around half of whom are women and children, and left 70% of the strip in ruins – is being viewed through a critical lens.
—Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 23 Aug. 2025
In the aftermath of the Eaton fire in January, much of Altadena was left in ruins.
—Jill Cowan, New York Times, 19 Aug. 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 16 Sep. 2025.
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