as in plundered
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
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Recent Examples of despoiled
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despoiled
Verb
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The Stuttgart striker plundered two second-half goals, including a stoppage-time winner, to earn his side a place in the last 32.
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Which were left to be plundered and destroyed?
Verb
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For decades, tomb raiders have pillaged sites across the country, selling them on the black market.
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North Texas — whose roster was pillaged in the portal and saw its top players leave for Oklahoma State alongside former head coach Eric Morris — have signed 42 transfers.
Verb
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Some have been looted, burned, and abandoned, while others face critical shortages of supplies, medicines, or staff.
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The sandstone artifact, which depicts the Hindu epic character Duryodhana, had in fact been looted from Koh Ker in or around 1972, after the all-important UNESCO convention.
Verb
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Bellamy, 46, is poised to take his first full-time job in club management, replacing Scott Parker who was sacked in April following Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League.
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Greek coach Georgios Donis was appointed just two months ago after Saudi Arabia sacked former coach Hervé Renard.
Cite this Entry
“Despoiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despoiled. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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