as in robbery
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as in plundering
to search through with the intent of committing robbery
the bandits looted the archaeological dig before riding off into the night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of looting
Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Greece, home to an extensive repository of cultural artifacts, has long contended with the proliferation of counterfeits and the looting of archaeological sites.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
But for many, the payment process associated with the War Damages Law dragged on into the 1960s, underlining the long-term economic impact of wartime looting.
—Shannon Fogg, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
The Canadiens forfeit the game to the Detroit after a smoke bomb goes off in the Forum and crowds spill into the streets, setting fires, smashing windows and looting.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Christophe Garnier, the leader of Doctors Without Borders in South Sudan said the organization had to evacuate its staff from Akobo on Saturday and learned of the subsequent looting of its hospital and the ransacking of its office.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Saleh Abu Alamah A statue of the Nubian god Apademak stands alone in the courtyard of Sudan’s National Museum, one of the few survivors of systematic looting amid a conflict that has developed into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
There is no widespread panic or looting.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
There is no widespread panic or looting.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Kamaron McNair,dan Mangan, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
The trio stripped down and left little to the imagination in their lingerie, raided the liquor cabinet, soaked in a bubble bath, stole a Grammy and cannonballed into a pool — all while looting the house for cash and jewels.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
In the Midway, the United Village campus around Allianz Field is in the process of adding its first commercial buildings, six years after riots and looting shuttered the last remaining stores in the former Midway Shopping Center and seven years after the soccer stadium held its first match.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
His case grew out of a broader Miami indictment filed in 2018 that charged eight associates with looting PDVSA, including senior executives and lawyers.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
In most academic histories of European imperialism written in this century, the Europeans are the barbarians, killing and raping and looting on an unprecedented scale.
—David A. Bell, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
Fearing damage, Kuchumov’s team covered the Amber Room in wallpaper to hide it from looting soldiers while packing and removing furniture and other decorations from the room.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Mar. 2026
Kathy Ireland, the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model who later made the cover of Forbes as a branding mogul, has accused her former business managers of looting millions of dollars from her and leaving her deeply in debt.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
In the Darfur region, three museums suffered complete destruction and looting during the first months of the conflict.
—Eissa Dafallah, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
On the streets of Saigon, there was widespread looting.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Greece, home to an extensive repository of cultural artifacts, has long contended with the proliferation of counterfeits and the looting of archaeological sites.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
But for many, the payment process associated with the War Damages Law dragged on into the 1960s, underlining the long-term economic impact of wartime looting.
—Shannon Fogg, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
The Canadiens forfeit the game to the Detroit after a smoke bomb goes off in the Forum and crowds spill into the streets, setting fires, smashing windows and looting.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Christophe Garnier, the leader of Doctors Without Borders in South Sudan said the organization had to evacuate its staff from Akobo on Saturday and learned of the subsequent looting of its hospital and the ransacking of its office.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Saleh Abu Alamah A statue of the Nubian god Apademak stands alone in the courtyard of Sudan’s National Museum, one of the few survivors of systematic looting amid a conflict that has developed into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
There is no widespread panic or looting.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
There is no widespread panic or looting.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Richard Schmeelk died at age 97 in May 2022 — but Corona kept on looting his widow’s accounts, according to court records.
—Kamaron McNair,dan Mangan, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
The trio stripped down and left little to the imagination in their lingerie, raided the liquor cabinet, soaked in a bubble bath, stole a Grammy and cannonballed into a pool — all while looting the house for cash and jewels.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
In the Midway, the United Village campus around Allianz Field is in the process of adding its first commercial buildings, six years after riots and looting shuttered the last remaining stores in the former Midway Shopping Center and seven years after the soccer stadium held its first match.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
His case grew out of a broader Miami indictment filed in 2018 that charged eight associates with looting PDVSA, including senior executives and lawyers.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
In most academic histories of European imperialism written in this century, the Europeans are the barbarians, killing and raping and looting on an unprecedented scale.
—David A. Bell, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
Fearing damage, Kuchumov’s team covered the Amber Room in wallpaper to hide it from looting soldiers while packing and removing furniture and other decorations from the room.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Mar. 2026
Kathy Ireland, the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model who later made the cover of Forbes as a branding mogul, has accused her former business managers of looting millions of dollars from her and leaving her deeply in debt.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
In the Darfur region, three museums suffered complete destruction and looting during the first months of the conflict.
—Eissa Dafallah, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for looting
Noun
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Workers detailed violent interactions with customers, including robberies and physical assaults, and said the company refused to provide safety training.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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The robbery happened just three days after the British surrendered at Yorktown, Flack related.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the sea lies in a region of the Golden State where there are already numerous environmental concerns, and some residents worry that plundering for lithium could exacerbate the problem.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
7 Apr. 2026
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So, the Board of Supervisors, through the County Executive Officer, has pirated the Treasurer’s office and is now plundering it.—
John Moorlach,
Oc Register,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Amid the pillaging of homes, Roman magistrates were likely sent to the city to prevent an anarchic type of existence, based on ancient literary sources the authors referenced in the study.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
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In fact, researchers know that pirates – basically just thieves on the water – targeted these river boats, because Egyptian pharaohs left records grumbling about pirates and their widespread pillaging.—
Brandon Prins,
The Conversation,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Stories are going viral about passengers raiding complimentary buffets in lounges, and children wreaking havoc while distracted parents are unfazed.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
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But Dead City fans have responded to cops raiding a concert by setting fires and ransacking a Metro train full of workers trying to get home.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Federal prosecutors charged Castillo with depredation of government property.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Colorado’s wolf depredation compensation program is the broadest in the country, Sedgeley said.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Downing Street moved swiftly late on Thursday to try to quash the scandal, sacking the Foreign Office’s top official, Olly Robbins.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
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The confrontation went viral in December 2024, as cameras captured Gastineau confronting Favre in 2023 over Michael Strahan sacking the Green Bay Packers legend to break Gastineau's single-season sack record.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Article continues below Unfortunately, a passing asteroid deposits a killer alien robot in their midst, and the soldiers must fend for themselves as this marauding mech stalks them with guns and lasers blazing.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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Rutter, the club’s record £40m buy from Leeds United, was an instant hit last season with insatiable work rate and marauding runs until an ankle injury ruled him out from March for the rest of the campaign.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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Through its parallel plots of love and guilt and plunder and destruction and rescue, one particular idea, one particular love, runs like a mighty stream: the passionate ties between Jews and books.—
Cathleen Schine,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Looting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/looting. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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