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

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
There will also be a limited-time in-game event with the chance to win more loot. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 May 2026 Activities for children include the popular Kids Sustainable Treasure Hunt in which participants check in with various exhibitors to learn about sustainability and earn a bag of loot. Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026
Verb
Police stopped the violence there that night, but more racist beatings and looting erupted downtown. USA Today, 2 June 2026 Russia utilizes short-term instability to essentially loot developing countries to prop up its own beleaguered economy, which is dragged down by sanctions. Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for loot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loot
Noun
  • 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
  • The looter’s story only came to light thanks to Bradley Gordon, an American lawyer based in Cambodia who has spent much of the last 14 years investigating the plunder of Khmer cultural heritage.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • Conley also has the most campaign cash, with $940,000 on hand.
    Chris McKenna, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • This anonymous political cash is commonly known as dark money, and its prevalence is growing.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • The result was so emphatic that the Tunisian soccer federation acted fast, sacking manager Sabri Lamouchi just hours after.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
  • Renard, 57, has been out of management since being sacked by Saudi Arabia in April, bringing his second stint with the national team to an end.
    Sam Joseph, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • Amazed to discover her treasure-trove apartment, Julián also discovers his own Caribbean heritage and the lively Brooklyn community he is surrounded by, in a loveable, benevolent family-friendly feature.
    Kevin Giraud, Variety, 18 June 2026
  • America is turning 250, but not all of its greatest treasures sit behind museum glass.
    Staff, USA Today, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • But Boston has not wisely or efficiently reinvested that money into the team, with the exception of the offseason trade for Willson Contreras to play first base.
    Stephen J. Nesbitt, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • The family is now trying to raise money on the fundraising site GoFundMe to bring justice to Jameson and pay for cremation fees.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • For decades, tomb raiders have pillaged sites across the country, selling them on the black market.
    Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
  • Some commentators’ dark horses for the tournament, Norway qualified from Europe with a perfect record, pillaging goals at will, while mercilessly dispatching opponents.
    Jonathan Thompson, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • There were things in possession, such as a car, a house, or a gold coin and things in action, such as debts or contractual rights.
    Susie Violet Ward, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • But just as most documentary filmmakers learn to make do with limited coin, so has SSD.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • New York police executing a search warrant raided an LGBTQ+ bar called the Stonewall Inn, and some of the patrons resisted as officers continued interrogating them and bar employees.
    USA Today, USA Today, 17 June 2026
  • Gordon worked with archeologists to match statues to specific sites that Toek Tik raided, mapping out looting networks.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Loot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loot. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

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