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
How Helene devastated western North Carolina and left communities in ruins
IV fluids are used for a wide range of medical purposes.
—
Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024
The offensive has left large areas in ruins and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people, forcing hundreds of thousands into crowded tent camps or schools-turned-shelters.
—Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
In response, Israel mounted a crushing counteroffensive, killing more than 41,000 Palestinians over the last year in brutal air and ground attacks that have left Gaza in ruins.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2024
Helene’s heavy rain caused massive devastation, leaving entire communities in western North Carolina in ruins.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for in ruins 
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Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024
The offensive has left large areas in ruins and displaced around 90% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people, forcing hundreds of thousands into crowded tent camps or schools-turned-shelters.
—Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
In response, Israel mounted a crushing counteroffensive, killing more than 41,000 Palestinians over the last year in brutal air and ground attacks that have left Gaza in ruins.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2024
Helene’s heavy rain caused massive devastation, leaving entire communities in western North Carolina in ruins.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 7 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for in ruins
Dictionary Entries Near in ruins
Cite this Entry
“In ruins.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20ruins. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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