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despoil

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of despoil

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 of despoil

loot, maraud, pillage, plunder, ransack, sack
Words Related to despoil

break in, burglarize, rip off, steal (from)

comb, hunt, rake, rifle, rummage

harry, raid

ravish

Synonym Discussion of despoil

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

Learn More about despoil

  1. See words that rhyme with despoil Dictionary: Definition of despoil Spanish Central: Translation of despoil Nglish: Translation of despoil for Spanish speakers

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