plunder 1 of 2

1
as in loot
valuables stolen or taken by force the thieves were promptly arrested when they tried to sell their plunder

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2

plunder

2 of 2

verb

as in to pillage
to search through with the intent of committing robbery the escaped convict plundered the house in search of valuables

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun plunder differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of plunder are booty, loot, prize, spoils, and spoil. While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

When could booty be used to replace plunder?

The words booty and plunder are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When would loot be a good substitute for plunder?

The synonyms loot and plunder are sometimes interchangeable, but loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

When is prize a more appropriate choice than plunder?

Although the words prize and plunder have much in common, prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy.

the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

How do spoil and spoils relate to one another, in the sense of plunder?

Spoil, more commonly spoils, applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest.

the spoils of political victory

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of plunder
Noun
Trouble is, the elder Broadway managed to cheat St. Christopher out of his share of the plunder. Joe Leydon, Variety, 13 June 2025 California was also a land of plunder, a place where rampant capitalism had merged with unrealistic fantasy. Andrew Moore, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Verb
The store released a black-and-white video showing the thieves, which appears to be at least four suspects, plundering the business. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025 The British Museum has many artifacts in its collection which were plundered during imperial and colonial eras, and are contested. Lauren Frayer, NPR, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for plunder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunder
Noun
  • A lot of characters, a lot of loot, a lot of missions to run.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Those who didn’t score tickets can console themselves with Oasis Live ‘25 loot like $49 or $56 T-shirts, $49 to $104 hoodies and other memorabilia like $28 tote bags and $56 posters.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 22 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Still, the offense wasn’t flowing, and the unit had just given an extra possession to the Jaguars with an interception that led to a touchdown.
    Mike Kaye September 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • During more than two hours of testimony, journalist Michael Shellenberger testified that sources had informed him that intelligence communities are in possession of numerous high-resolution photos and videos of the craft unlike any of the grainy imagery that has so far been declassified.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At the same time, members of the powerful Viv Ansanm gang coalition had pillaged and/or burned at least 410 residences and other buildings, including six schools, health centers and local nongovernmental organizations during the period.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
  • After the Broncos’ frontmen pillaged San Francisco for the better part of two hours, Castle Rock native and 49er Christian McCaffrey stood in front of reporters and confirmed what Denver’s offense has known for a few months.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • This $8 set comes with four zippered pouches that can separate dirty, wet, or stinky shoes from the rest of your belongings.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Set up familiar spaces – Arrange furniture and pet belongings in a similar way in the new home to make the transition less jarring.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Beyond the considerable issue of adequately defending the potent Eagles offense, the Chiefs most obviously will seek to better protect Mahomes — who was sacked six times and pressured 16 times without the Eagles blitzing once.
    Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
  • He's also been sacked three times (3) while rushing for a total of negative-three yards on 13 carries (including sacks).
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • If things do go long, Alcaraz will still back himself.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • But now, the King and the royal family have received very sad news that will change things going forward.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Decades of despoiling water bodies have taken a terrible toll, filling water bodies with fetid algae that blocks sunlight and smothers the native seagrass beds that are a main food source for manatees.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2025
  • Gaddis was an obscure state employee who was fired from his job last summer after leaking details of a secret plot by the DeSantis administration to despoil nine pristine Florida state parks with golf courses, pickleball courts and resort-style lodges — all to benefit his wealthy friends.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 June 2025
Noun
  • Everything about Elvis, including his death-by-cardiac-arrest at 42 in Graceland, is the stuff of opera.
    Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • By our points formula, a game in the 10s or below is D-grade, the 20s is average, the 30s above average, the 40s really good and 50s-plus next-stratosphere stuff.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Plunder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plunder. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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