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
Now the courtyard lies in ruins, and in his anguish, Grade’s voice takes on the proclamatory cadences of a prophet.
—
Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
The video shows residential homes lying in ruins, roads scattered with debris and the bodies of soldiers killed in combat.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
Thanks to countless disaster epics, the world is accustomed to seeing our city’s iconic landmarks in ruins.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
More than 90 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, the economy is shattered, and basic infrastructure is in ruins.
—Patrick Vinck, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in ruins
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Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
The video shows residential homes lying in ruins, roads scattered with debris and the bodies of soldiers killed in combat.
—Christian Edwards, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
Thanks to countless disaster epics, the world is accustomed to seeing our city’s iconic landmarks in ruins.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
More than 90 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, the economy is shattered, and basic infrastructure is in ruins.
—Patrick Vinck, Foreign Affairs, 4 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 19 Mar. 2025.
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