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
Toek Tik did not know exactly where his loot ended up after leaving Cambodia. Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026 While the store's look hasn't changed too much over the decades, the loot has. John Lauritsen, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Verb
In addition to missile targeting, Russia has also looted thousands of Ukrainian cultural objects since the beginning of the war. News Desk, Artforum, 7 Aug. 2026 Towns on the region’s fertile lowlands, once inhabited by Azerbaijani farmers and traders, were abandoned, then they were looted, landmined and turned into military buffer zones. Literary Hub, 30 July 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
  • Craig represents the state's Second Congressional District and holds a significant cash advantage in the race.
    Aki Nace, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Abel opens the wallet Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO Greg Abel, who took over from Buffett at the start of the year, appears determined to put the record cash hoard amassed by Warren Buffett to work on buybacks and stock purchases.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The European Court of Human ​Rights ruled in 2014 that Hungary had sacked Baka for criticism ​of the ⁠government and that his removal did damage to democratic freedoms in Hungary.
    Reuters, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The offense couldn’t run the ball, and Dart was sacked three times early by defensive tackles Darius Alexander and Josh Tupou and safety Tyler Nubin.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Once an official restitution request is made for the Ségou treasure – in this case by Senegal — then two committees, including experts from France and the requesting country, plus government representatives, will examine the case.
    Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The building where the treasure was found is owned by the Belgian charity CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, which offers support to people in difficulty.
    Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Johnson was not in the team, the money was on the table, and his valuation was probably more likely to go down from there rather than up.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The trend of hospitals asking for money up front represents a double whammy for patients.
    Julie Appleby, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Sometimes the very entities owning these hospitals and nursing homes are purposely bankrupting them, pillaging them of their value to maximize the owners’ profits.
    Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • But Nolan also throws a meditative new wrinkle into the story, as Odysseus comes to grips with his role in the Trojan War, leading the charge as his men raped, murdered and pillaged in his name.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • Apple AirTags are a favorite among flight attendants and frequent fliers because the coin-sized trackers can be slipped into luggage without sacrificing packing space.
    Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The much harder question is what happens to coins whose owners fail to migrate them in time.
    Joshua Hong, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Members of the Montreal City Police Department found the weapon, a Glock 26, on August 30, 2024, when officers raided a home in relation to a kidnapping investigation, court records show.
    Mark Morales, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • In September of 2022, Spanish police arrested an Irishman suspected of laundering money for the Kinahan organization after raiding a property in Malaga on the Costa del Sol.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Loot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loot. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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