as in plundered
to search through with the intent of committing robbery
the bandits looted the archaeological dig before riding off into the night
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Recent Examples of looted
The sandstone artifact, which depicts the Hindu epic character Duryodhana, had in fact been looted from Koh Ker in or around 1972, after the all-important UNESCO convention.
—
Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Rioters again attacked police with rocks, bottles and other objects, and looted and burned local buildings.
—Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Koh Ker was extensively looted in the 1970s, and at least a dozen such sculptures were smuggled out of Cambodia and sold by Latchford.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 11 June 2026
Armed gangs, now in control of most of the capital, have emptied out entire neighborhoods, shuttered schools and set looted and set fire to hospitals.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
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
Jenkins also admitted stealing cocaine, heroin, and marijuana—along with pharmaceuticals looted during the unrest following the death of Freddie Gray in 2015.
—Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 7 May 2026
The inscriptions were originally inlaid with gold, which was looted following the British annexation of Myanmar in 1885 and replaced with black ink beginning in 1892.
—Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 May 2026
Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Rioters again attacked police with rocks, bottles and other objects, and looted and burned local buildings.
—Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026
Koh Ker was extensively looted in the 1970s, and at least a dozen such sculptures were smuggled out of Cambodia and sold by Latchford.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 11 June 2026
Armed gangs, now in control of most of the capital, have emptied out entire neighborhoods, shuttered schools and set looted and set fire to hospitals.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
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
Jenkins also admitted stealing cocaine, heroin, and marijuana—along with pharmaceuticals looted during the unrest following the death of Freddie Gray in 2015.
—Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 7 May 2026
The inscriptions were originally inlaid with gold, which was looted following the British annexation of Myanmar in 1885 and replaced with black ink beginning in 1892.
—Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for looted
Verb
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Messi played a gorgeous pass that led to a Lautaro Martinez chance and, on the hour mark, plundered his second of the night after a goalkeeping error.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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Which were left to be plundered and destroyed?—
Amer Matar,
The Dial,
26 May 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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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
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Greek coach Georgios Donis was appointed just two months ago after Saudi Arabia sacked former coach Hervé Renard.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
Verb
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Authorities raided the pawn shop on Monday.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
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During the Nazi occupation of Paris, the Gestapo frequently raided Pablo Picasso’s Left Bank apartment and studio at 7 rue de Grands-Augustins, a few steps from the Seine.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Verb
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In the 21st century, oil extraction has become a serious threat to Ecuadoran Amazonia, with large swaths of forest, often located in Indigenous territories, despoiled by the release of wastewater from the wells.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Officer Sean Lally told the court on Monday that the woman's room appeared ransacked and alleged that Jankauskas had broken a mirror and a bed.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
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On April 18, Fort Lauderdale officers were called to an Airbnb in the 1600 block of Northwest 16th Court after a group of women who had rented the home returned to find it in disarray, furniture flipped over, their belongings ransacked a man inside.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Looted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/looted. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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