as in to plunder
to search through with the intent of committing robbery the burglars despoiled the art museum in search of treasures they thought they could sell to a fence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb despoil contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of despoil are devastate, pillage, ravage, sack, and waste. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

In what contexts can devastate take the place of despoil?

The words devastate and despoil can be used in similar contexts, but devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

How are the words pillage and sack related as synonyms of despoil?

Pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

When can ravage be used instead of despoil?

The meanings of ravage and despoil largely overlap; however, ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

When is it sensible to use sack instead of despoil?

The words sack and despoil are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

When could waste be used to replace despoil?

Although the words waste and despoil have much in common, waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

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 despoil The monument, situated along the Arizona Strip, aims to protect the Grand Canyon from more uranium mining, which Native Americans said would despoil many sacred ancestral sites, leach into aquifers and threaten water supplies. Mark Eddington, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023 In stark contrast to the sensible environmental policies of his Republican predecessors, Watt’s policy enthusiasms included drilling, clear-cutting, despoiling public lands, and shredding environmental regulations. Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 16 June 2023 This urge to despoil images of the unpopular goes a long way toward explaining why so many statues of Nero lost their heads, said Eric R. Varner, professor of classics and art history at Emory University. Graham Bowley, New York Times, 12 June 2023 Growth in Africa must be clean, both in terms of generating energy and not despoiling the continent’s landscape and natural resources. Jack A. Goldstone, Foreign Affairs, 18 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for despoil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despoil
Verb
  • The towns of Harrisonville, Butler and Osceola were plundered during Bleeding Kansas.
    Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
  • These will hold a particular interest for the Bloomsbury enthusiast because the majority of them are previously unpublished (an impressive feat, given how often the various archives have been plundered by other biographers).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 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
Verb
  • Two days after that, Bayer Leverkusen sacked Erik ten Hag.
    Carl Anka, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • His parting vision of her funeral pyre both recalls and anticipates the devastated city of Carthage, sacked by Rome.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In another recent Italian discovery, archaeologists found an Etruscan tomb around 30 miles north of Rome – an unusual find that hadn't been looted.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Their neighbor, an older Jewish woman, gets arrested and Nazi thugs brazenly loot her apartment.
    Rabih Alameddine September 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Despoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despoil. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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