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
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as in robbery
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of looting
Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Casualties among Gaza’s police force during the two-year conflict have contributed to a deterioration in security, with looting of aid becoming commonplace.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
Character progression is primarily handled through a persistent skill tree, crafting, and looting.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025
The antifa movement was often blamed by police for the violence and looting that occurred in the aftermath of the murder.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Sewer workers discovered a 2,300-year-old tomb containing ceramic artifacts and showing signs of ancient looting.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 16 Sep. 2025
There was no rioting, no looting, no cars set on fire.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
In June, a large-scale immigration operation targeting Los Angeles sparked protests, and there was violence and looting that later prompted Mayor Karen Bass to impose a curfew downtown.
—Julia Ainsley, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2025
As media coverage focused on looting and disorder, some confrontations between White and Black residents grew violent.
—Avalon Hester, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
NPR, 20 Oct. 2025
Hamas reportedly executed a leader of the powerful Doghmush clan in March 2024, on grounds of cooperating with Israeli authorities, looting aid convoys and reselling the spoils on black market.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said the casualties include protesters and bystanders killed by members of the security forces, but also others killed in subsequent widespread violence and looting by individuals and gangs not associated with the protesters.
—CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Days after a criminal gang stormed this rural village in Haiti’s northwest, setting fire to the local police substation and looting homes, residents remain gripped by fear amid concerns that the violence isn’t over.
—Ychmuth Corneille, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Protests intensified over the weekend, with rioters targeting the homes of lawmakers, ransacking and looting properties, and burning government buildings, according to media reports.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
Apex Legends, for instance, added Wildcard Mode, which drops looting to focus on faster combat.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Six were killed, dozens injured, and fires and looting caused damage.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
In the wake of the disaster, desperation led to looting and violent crimes, especially in the Superdome, the city’s multipurpose stadium and makeshift shelter.
—Curtis Bunn, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
The discovery has sparked discussions about the ethical considerations of such finds, including concerns about potential looting.
—Real-Time News Team, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Casualties among Gaza’s police force during the two-year conflict have contributed to a deterioration in security, with looting of aid becoming commonplace.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
Character progression is primarily handled through a persistent skill tree, crafting, and looting.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025
The antifa movement was often blamed by police for the violence and looting that occurred in the aftermath of the murder.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Sewer workers discovered a 2,300-year-old tomb containing ceramic artifacts and showing signs of ancient looting.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 16 Sep. 2025
There was no rioting, no looting, no cars set on fire.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
In June, a large-scale immigration operation targeting Los Angeles sparked protests, and there was violence and looting that later prompted Mayor Karen Bass to impose a curfew downtown.
—Julia Ainsley, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2025
As media coverage focused on looting and disorder, some confrontations between White and Black residents grew violent.
—Avalon Hester, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
On the eve of the war, Jaujard, with the help of staff and volunteers, secretly arranged for the Mona Lisa and thousands of other masterpieces to be evacuated to the French countryside to protect them from looting.
—NPR, 20 Oct. 2025
Hamas reportedly executed a leader of the powerful Doghmush clan in March 2024, on grounds of cooperating with Israeli authorities, looting aid convoys and reselling the spoils on black market.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said the casualties include protesters and bystanders killed by members of the security forces, but also others killed in subsequent widespread violence and looting by individuals and gangs not associated with the protesters.
—CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Days after a criminal gang stormed this rural village in Haiti’s northwest, setting fire to the local police substation and looting homes, residents remain gripped by fear amid concerns that the violence isn’t over.
—Ychmuth Corneille, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Protests intensified over the weekend, with rioters targeting the homes of lawmakers, ransacking and looting properties, and burning government buildings, according to media reports.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
Apex Legends, for instance, added Wildcard Mode, which drops looting to focus on faster combat.
—Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Six were killed, dozens injured, and fires and looting caused damage.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
In the wake of the disaster, desperation led to looting and violent crimes, especially in the Superdome, the city’s multipurpose stadium and makeshift shelter.
—Curtis Bunn, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for looting
Verb
-
While plundering a dungeon lair and stealing artifacts from a museum both have heist elements to them, Skullduggery looks into the other intrigues of adventures in urban environments.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The store released a black-and-white video showing the thieves, which appears to be at least four suspects, plundering the business.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Other times, the mob leaned on more traditional crime tactics — robbery, extortion and assault, including a punch to one victim’s face — to force the card players to pay.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Böcker, the firm that manufactured the furniture lift apparently used in the audacious robbery, has taken to social media to show there is no such thing as bad publicity.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If peaceable trading isn't your dream, consider the corsair life, pillaging other ships for their precious cargo.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Under the administration of then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a 2008 crackdown on the area’s counterfeiters — with federal agents and police raiding 32 vendors selling knockoff luxury goods — led to $1 million worth of counterfeit goods being seized.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
22 Oct. 2025
-
While many consider the mammal a nuisance for raiding garbage cans and damaging property, raccoons can also carry diseases, and they probably shouldn't be kept as housepets.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Federal wildlife agents confirmed the two depredation events, which took place Friday and Saturday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Despite years of sitting on the sidelines, the United States has an opportunity to reassert itself in seeking to end the depredations of the junta and advance the cause of democracy in Myanmar.—
Dan Swift,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Losing to Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup led Amorim to discuss his long-term future at United, but senior executives have little appetite for sacking yet another head coach.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The defensive line took advantage of a weak Auburn O-line, sacking Arnold five times.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
First, the marauding, overlapping wing-backs drag markers away with decoy runs, opening up lanes for the attacking midfielders to exploit.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
As an alliance grew between senators and financial powers, public figures began profiting from real-estate speculation, slave trading, and overseas plunder—while masking their involvement.—
Zephyr Teachout,
The Atlantic,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Reparations, long proposed as the only measure proportionate to the scale of racial plunder, look increasingly like a political, economic, and legal non-starter.—
Idrees Kahloon,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Looting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/looting. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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