pillage

noun

pil·lage | \ ˈpi-lij

Definition of pillage

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the act of looting or plundering especially in war

2 : something taken as booty

pillage

verb

pillaged; pillaging

Definition of pillage (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to plunder ruthlessly : loot

intransitive verb

: to take booty

Other Words from pillage Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym The Various Uses of Pilfer Example Sentences Learn More about pillage

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Synonyms for pillage

Synonyms: Noun

booty, loot, plunder, spoil, swag

Synonyms: Verb

despoil, loot, maraud, plunder, ransack, sack

Choose the Right Synonym for pillage

Verb

ravage, devastate, waste, sack, pillage, despoil mean to lay waste by plundering or destroying. ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction. a hurricane ravaged the coast devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area. an earthquake devastated the city waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action. years of drought had wasted the area sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place. barbarians sacked ancient Rome pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack. settlements pillaged by Vikings despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction. the Nazis despoiled the art museums

The Various Uses of Pilfer

Pilfer is a synonym of steal, but it typically implies a particular kind of stealing. What is pilfered is usually stolen stealthily—furtively, so that no one will notice—in small amounts and often again and again. One might, for example, pilfer cookies from a cookie jar until a plentiful supply has dwindled to nothing. The word is sometimes used for that kind of stealing: the stealthy and gradual stealing of something that isn't worth much anyway:

Money was tight enough that Dickey's family used silverware pilfered from the local Western Sizzlin….
— L. Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated 2 Apr. 2012

But it is also used when the stolen things are valuable indeed, and the act of pilfering a serious criminal act:

For generations, scavengers have prowled this city with impunity, pouncing on abandoned properties and light poles to pilfer steel, copper and other metals they could trade for cash at scrapyards. The practice left tens of thousands of buildings so damaged that they could not be restored, turning places like the North End into grim cityscapes that appeared to have been ravaged by a tornado.
— John Eligon, The New York Times, 15 Mar. 2015

Pilfer may remind one of a similar also-serious word: pillage. The two words share more than a first syllable; pilfer comes from an old word meaning "booty" (as in, things that are stolen or taken by force, especially during a war) and pillage means "to take things from a place by force especially during a war." But despite their similarities, the words in modern use are very different. Pilfer has long since shed the connotations of violence in its etymological past; what's pilfered is not taken violently. Pillage, on the other hand, remains firmly rooted in violence and especially war; it is not a term you apply when someone's been sneaking cookies from a cookie jar.

Examples of pillage in a Sentence

Noun

the pirate ship was laden with the pillage of merchant ships from across the Spanish Main

Verb

The enemy pillaged the town. The town was pillaged and burned. barbarians known for looting and pillaging

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Drifters from the conflict, skilled in pillage but unable to find gainful employment (of which there is little), have left a deep pool from which groups like CODECO can recruit. — The Economist, "Killings in Congo’s north-east spark fears of a return to war," 13 July 2019 The Metropolitan Museum has once again brought us back to the Middle East—to a cradle of civilization that, by a cruel turn of history, has become a scene of hatred, destruction, and cold-blooded pillage. — Peter Brown, The New York Review of Books, "Cities That Touched Heaven," 6 June 2019 Watch as Violette and Jenna pillage through each drawer, discovering some French skincare—and haircare!—secrets along the way. — Jenna Rosenstein, Harper's BAZAAR, "Go Inside Makeup Artist Violette's Beauty Stash," 18 July 2018 In Maeve's understanding, the Ghost Nation showed up in the name of violence, to attack, pillage and plunder. — refinery29.com, "Westworld Season 2, Episode 8: Forget What You Think You Know," 11 June 2018 When the action opens, Jacques Jaujard, deputy head of the Louvre, is packing up the contents of the museum in order to spare France’s art collection from Nazi pillage. — Nina Renata Aron, The New Republic, "The Spirit of the Left Bank," 21 Mar. 2018 Señorita Navarro opened the door and was greeted by language of the vilest sort from marauders whose sole intent seemed to be to loot and pillage. — Robert Kolarik, San Antonio Express-News, "Alamo falls at dawn," 5 Mar. 2018 In 1956, Graham compared the Soviet Union to a gangster set loose to murder and pillage. — David Briggs, cleveland.com, "Billy Graham's 'unwavering message' was heard around the world, and in Cleveland (photos)," 21 Feb. 2018 There is no question about the general philosophy that underlay this great act of public pillage and economic rapine. — Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, "And The Banks Get Off Easy," 13 Mar. 2013

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Police in Vacaville are looking for four people who were caught on video pillaging an outlet store for more than $8,000 worth of clothes last week, authorities announced Saturday. — Ashley Mcbride, SFChronicle.com, "Suspects sought in heist of $8,000 worth of clothes at Vacaville store," 16 June 2019 The Empress controls the universe, and pillages the past for technologies to keep the universe safe from an alien species known as The Bleed. — Andrew Liptak, The Verge, "11 new science fiction and fantasy books to check out in late June," 15 June 2019 And their ship does look suspiciously like the one Ariel pillaged — er, explored — in The Little Mermaid. — Stacey Grant, Seventeen, "20 Insane Disney Movie Fan Theories That Will Blow. Your. Mind.," 16 Apr. 2019 In a surprising ruling in June, appeals judges with the ICC overturned Bemba's convictions for murder, rape and pillaging committed by his Movement for the Liberation of Congo forces in neighboring Central African Republic in 2002 and 2003. — Saleh Mwanamilongo, Fox News, "Congo's Bemba returns to country to register as candidate," 1 Aug. 2018 Some sites and artifacts were destroyed by the Islamic State group, while others have been looted, pillaged or illegally trafficked. — Maggie Hyde, The Seattle Times, "Syria displays artifacts retrieved from rebel-held areas," 8 Oct. 2018 The Trump Administration is right to stop unions from pillaging vulnerable families. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "No More Union Skimming," 17 July 2018 In ushering a new wave of young talent, Smith has also championed a graduating class of customers in her own age bracket, who until recently (and likely still) were pillaging sample sales and fast fashion for their statement pieces. — Tyler Joe, Harper's BAZAAR, "Tales in Retail: Introducing Fashion's Chicest New E-Tailer," 13 Dec. 2016 Their crops had been scorched, their villages had been pillaged. — New York Times, "A Story of Survival Revived by the Cicadas’ Loud (and Crunchy) Return," 22 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pillage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.