loot 1 of 2

Definition of lootnext

loot

2 of 2

verb

as in to plunder
to search through with the intent of committing robbery the bandits looted the archaeological dig before riding off into the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun loot differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of loot are booty, plunder, prize, spoils, and spoil. While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

When could booty be used to replace loot?

While in some cases nearly identical to loot, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When might plunder be a better fit than loot?

In some situations, the words plunder and loot are roughly equivalent. However, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

In what contexts can prize take the place of loot?

Although the words prize and loot 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 loot?

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

How does the noun loot differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of loot are booty, plunder, prize, spoils, and spoil. While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

When could booty be used to replace loot?

While in some cases nearly identical to loot, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When might plunder be a better fit than loot?

In some situations, the words plunder and loot are roughly equivalent. However, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

In what contexts can prize take the place of loot?

Although the words prize and loot 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 loot?

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 loot
Noun
And sticky fingers in California are stretching out to get some of the management fees for handling the loot. Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026 The Republican donors get their roles, splitting their loot with the more pliable components of the Castro clique. Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
In the Midway, the United Village campus around Allianz Field is in the process of adding its first commercial buildings, six years after riots and looting shuttered the last remaining stores in the former Midway Shopping Center and seven years after the soccer stadium held its first match. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026 French laws related to recovering apartments, looted furniture and war damages promised equality to all war victims. Shannon Fogg, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loot
Noun
  • Critics contend the industry plunders distressed companies, leading to downsizing and cost-cutting that hurts local communities, though other research has pushed back on that reputation.
    Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Through its parallel plots of love and guilt and plunder and destruction and rescue, one particular idea, one particular love, runs like a mighty stream: the passionate ties between Jews and books.
    Cathleen Schine, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The victim, Adbadalla Thabet, collected cash from gas stations in Downey, Bellflower, Compton and Lynwood early in the morning before driving to the bank.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
  • The short-term spending cuts proposed to date are simply not enough to balance the budget anymore — not even with a one-time cash infusion from Albany.
    Ike Brannon, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Los Angeles Chargers – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama Justin Herbert played some incredible football despite being sacked 54 times in 2025, which was one fewer than Cam Ward and Geno Smith, who tied for the league lead.
    Dan Zaksheske, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Downing Street has blamed the Foreign Office for the failure, and a top civil servant has reportedly been sacked.
    Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There are, as usual, treasures lurking in the gathering of films being offered at this year’s Doc10 documentary film festival.
    Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
  • All three suspects are residents of Heerhugowaard in North Holland and are charged with blowing up a museum door before making off with the golden treasures in January 2025.
    Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Packing this $12 gadget could also save you money on budget airlines that charge an arm and a leg for access to in-flight entertainment.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Evans wound up taking less money to leave Tampa Bay and sign with the 49ers.
    Vic Tafur, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • 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.
    Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
  • In a landscape of sequels and overly pillaged IP, the Stranger Things finale is finite and close-ended, the credits rolling once and for all.
    Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The unlawful taking of items from a machine or device that is operated or activated by the use of coins.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Now, bagel shops around the country are getting serious coin from investment funds.
    Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The company had its offices raided and several bank accounts frozen, according to Malaysian business publication The Edge.
    Angelica Ang, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Separately, police in Moscow raided the offices of the prominent independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, whose chief editor Dmitry Muratov was a Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2021.
    Dasha Litvinova, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Loot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loot. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on loot

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster