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

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
Raiders drops Turf War entirely and builds a single-player loot chase across the Spirhalite Islands, with four-player co-op that scales difficulty by headcount. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Loyalty over loot Missouri State was the first school to believe in him. Latif Love july 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026
Verb
Police say the home was looted of items that included artwork, jewelry, electronics and business documents. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 Russian forces have routinely looted Ukrainian cultural objects during the course of the war, which has been going on for over four years. News Desk, Artforum, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loot
Noun
  • To the family’s lawyer, Markus Stötzel, the case is a typical example of Nazi plunder in need of immediate restoration.
    Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
  • The second — a fastball Horwitz hit about 100 mph for a double to right field — was the start of a Pirate plunder at Sutter Health Park.
    Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • At that point, the cost and structure of risk transfer may warrant the same financial analysis leadership applies to debt, capital expenditures and other major cash uses.
    Randy Sadler, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Step Back The crypto industry is waiting on the vote to deploy tens of millions of dollars in campaign cash.
    Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • When West Virginia defensive back Geimere Latimer sacked Pribula, the game was all but over.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 20 Sep. 2026
  • He also was sacked twice and hurried into poor throws on multiple occasions.
    Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 20 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • And more treasures await in nearby towns like New Preston and Falls Village that have shops filled with both antiques and local craft.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Top it off with one of Róhe’s signatures—a drapey satin top—and a pendant necklace from their display case of treasures, featuring vintage silver jewelry alongside the house’s contemporary styles.
    Madeline Fass, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • In each case, the contracts were built off of what would stand as less than mid-level money, with both having higher potential upside.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, two coaches making almost identical money were standing on opposite sidelines Saturday night trying to revive two programs with almost identical problems.
    Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Sudan’s civil war, a conflict credibly described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, has seen violence matched only by the belligerents’ rapacity in pillaging the country’s riches.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Most notable is how the Premier League’s most famous clubs increasingly pillage the internal market for reliable and proven talent, rather than taking bets on cheaper or further-flung bets from across the continent or beyond.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The actresses alternate between the roles of Electra/Elisabeth and Clytemnestra/Alma each night, depending on a coin toss.
    Tanya Fedak, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
  • There are also 118 physical meters still active across the downtown and beach areas that accept bills and coins.
    Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Still, the family was shocked when their home was raided by Homeland Security Investigations and LAPD in August 2023.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • After a nearly seven-week manhunt, police raided the Kohberger family home in eastern Pennsylvania, where Kohberger was visiting during holiday break, and arrested him in late December 2022.
    Kevin Fixler September 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Loot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loot. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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