depredate

verb

Definition of depredatenext
as in to plunder

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for depredate
  1. plunder
  2. despoil
  3. pillage
  4. loot
  5. sack
  6. destroy
  7. maraud
  8. sabotage
Verb
  • Military leaders on both sides have also plundered Sudan’s vast gold reserves, smuggling much of their takings out of the country.
    — Mat Nashed, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Social media posts and merchant reports said luxury and beauty stores, including Sephora, Celine, Burberry and Louis Vuitton, were plundered.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of plunder
Verb
  • One looks to the story of the Haitian World Cup team, appearing in the tournament for the first time in fifty years, which has gathered expatriate players from the Haitian diaspora to play for that beautiful and utterly despoiled country, where many of them have never lived.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
  • In the 21st century, oil extraction has become a serious threat to Ecuadoran Amazonia, with large swaths of forest, often located in Indigenous territories, despoiled by the release of wastewater from the wells.
    — Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Definition of despoil
Verb
  • The Digest Lawmakers in Italy are examining a new bill to create a committee that will research provenance and facilitate the restitution of art and cultural items pillaged by Nazis and Italian police between 1933 and 1945.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Shopkeepers who’ve found their livelihoods suddenly at stake wonder where the police were while groups looted and pillaged with impunity.
    — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of pillage
Verb
  • The Kingdom of Benin, in what is now Nigeria, was looted of roughly 5,000 religious objects by the British in 1897.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Widespread unrest watch now Since late September, France has seen violent protests across the country, with demonstrations dissolving into riots and looting in late October.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of loot
Verb
  • Garrett burst off the line at the snap and sacked Daniels for a 12-yard loss.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The Broncos’ Nick Bonitto got to Young, sacked him, forced a fumble and recovered it in the process.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of sack
Verb
  • An electrical fire destroyed their home on Osceola Avenue during Fourth of July weekend in 2005.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Earthquakes in July 2019 destroyed three energetics compounds in the Salt Wells area of China Lake.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the bubble wrap will be coming off against a marauding Denver defense.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Supposedly posing a threat to their idyll on the outskirts are various marauding splinter groups running amok through the barren wasteland of the American Mountain West.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of maraud
Verb
  • Beznosiuk believes that Moscow will continue to increasingly rely on disposable agents to conduct hybrid activities, which could range from surveillance of critical infrastructure assets to sabotage and arson attacks across Poland.
    — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2026
  • It’s designed to sneakily sabotage your property rights and your ability to receive public services.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of sabotage
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.

Browse Nearby Words

depreciatory
depredate
depredated
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Cite this Entry

“Depredate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depredate. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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