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
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 Unbeknownst to her, the loot had been stashed in her attic crawl space. Jennifer Cannon, Vanity Fair, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
The mob burned and looted Shepherd’s home while attacking surrounding homes and businesses. Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2026 Two notable exceptions are Sednaya Military Prison, which was looted and partially closed, and Tadmur Military Prison, which was partly demolished by ISIS and then bombed. Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for loot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loot
Noun
  • Many Indians and students of colonialism see it as a symbol of the British Empire and the domination and plunder of imperialism.
    Emma Caughlan, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Noun
  • George Gascón, who eliminated cash bail for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies and championed rehabilitation over punitive sentencing.
    National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
  • Finally, if Anthropic is the third to go public, remember the market will be severely depleted of cash.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Lopetegui was sacked by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) the next day and replaced by Fernando Hierro.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 2 June 2026
  • Opponents sacked Herbert 54 times last season, a career high.
    Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • From a parade of tall ships to a downtown block party to glimpse of some of our country’s iconic treasures under one roof, this is the time to celebrate the American Experiment.
    Fritz Hahn, Washington Post, 4 June 2026
  • Others have noted that police have nabbed underground treasure seekers from time to time.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • There's much more, but this is a taster of how much money and time the partnership divert back into the area.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • But they are constrained by money—its excess and its absence.
    Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • OpenAI has been pillaging Apple’s hardware engineering ranks for talent to work on competitors to Apple’s smart home and mobile devices, while Meta is revamping its own AI wearables.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
  • Then Joe Biden and his corrupt administration comes along and makes matters worse, allowing thousands of criminals to enter our country illegally, pillaging Americans while being pampered in luxury hotels on our dime.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The President is also slated to appear on a number of coins, including a commemorative 24-karat gold coin and a $1 coin that will reportedly circulate as currency.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 29 May 2026
  • In all recent drafts, the second round has gone in reverse order of win-loss record, with no lottery and ties settled by a coin toss.
    John Hollinger, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Sukhmati described how her comrades would raid police stations to steal weapons.
    Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
  • The hotel was raided by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and FBI agents — some wearing green camoflauge and riding in military-style vehicles — after a six-month investigation revealed a drug dealing, Ferguson said.
    Jeff A. Chamer May 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Loot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loot. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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