raider

noun

raid·​er ˈrā-dər 

: one that raids: such as

a

: a fast lightly armed ship operating against merchant shipping

b

: a soldier specially trained for close-range fighting

c

: one that attempts a usually hostile takeover of a business corporation

corporate raiders

Synonyms

• invader

Examples of raider in a Sentence

The village needs protection from enemy raiders.

Raiders had emptied the tomb of treasure.

He made his fortune as a corporate raider.

Recent Examples on the Web

Outside what is today a parking garage, a group of Union soldiers — unarmed and asleep in tents — were trampled by horses and murdered by Quantrill’s raiders. —Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025

The raiders kill many vault residents and kidnap her father Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), so the sheltered Lucy sets out on a quest to find him. —ArsTechnica, 19 Aug. 2025

After the rookie season finale where Hank MacLean, played by Kyle MacLachlan, escapes amid the battle between the Brotherhood of Steel and Moldaver’s New California Republic raiders, the way is opened for the sci-fi series to get to New Vegas, a popular location in the video game franchise. —Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025

When Dougal left, the raiders went with him. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for raider

• aider
• fader
• grader
• kadir
• nadir
• prader
• schrader
• seder
• shader
• trader
• crusader
• invader

Legal Definition

raider

noun

raid·​er

: one that attempts a usually hostile takeover of a business corporation compare white knight