despoil

de·spoil

transitive verb \di-ˈspȯi(-ə)l\

Definition of DESPOIL

: to strip of belongings, possessions, or value : pillage

— de·spoil·er noun

— de·spoil·ment \-mənt\ noun

Examples of DESPOIL

1. The landscape has been despoiled by industrial development.
2. <the burglars despoiled the art museum in search of treasures they thought they could sell to a fence>

Origin of DESPOIL

Middle English despoylen, from Anglo-French despoiller, from Latin despoliare, from de- + spoliare to strip, rob — more at spoil

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DESPOIL

Synonyms

ransack, loot, maraud, pillage, plunder, sack

Related Words

break in, burglarize, rip off, steal (from); comb, hunt, rake, rifle, rummage; harry, raid; ravish

See Synonym Discussion at ravage

Rhymes with DESPOIL

coal oil, corn oil, fish oil, fixed oil, free-soil, fuel oil, gas oil, night soil, palm oil, red soil, rose oil, shale oil, snake oil, sperm oil, subsoil, tung oil, white oil