loots 1 of 2

noun

plural of loot
as in plunders
valuables stolen or taken by force the burglar was caught when he foolishly stopped to examine the loot from the robbery

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loots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of loot
as in pillages
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

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 loots
Verb
Israel blames Hamas for the scale of the destruction in Gaza, saying the group hides behind civilians, uses civil infrastructure for military purposes, and loots humanitarian aid intended for ordinary Gazans. — Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loots
  1. spoils
  2. plunders
  3. treasures
  4. sacks
  5. raids
  6. ransacks
Noun
  • Nowhere is this indifference to people more apparent than in the treatment of female characters (at least the ones who aren’t big splashy cameos) as rewards or status symbols or spoils of war.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026
  • But Marconi also remembered that Messi would divide the spoils among his teammates, handing out alfajores to other boys.
    — Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
Definition of spoils
Verb
  • 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
  • By delegitimizing the Islamic Republic as an occupying force—one that plunders national wealth to subsidize regional proxies—the opposition has effectively subverted the regime’s nationalist rhetoric.
    — Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
Definition of plunders
Noun
  • An elegant conservatory, a beloved aquarium known for its shimmering jade green tiles reminiscent of an underwater tavern, and the small but excellent Dossin Great Lakes Museum are a few of the treasures found here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 July 2026
  • Several of these have yielded extraordinary treasures, many of which are on display at the town’s dazzling National Museum.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 26 July 2026
Definition of treasures
Verb
  • Manning, back for what is probably his final season, is on the short list of best returning quarterbacks in the country and edge rusher Colin Simmons won the SEC sacks title with 12.
    — Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 3 Jan. 2026
  • Riley Moss sacks a scrambling Trevor Lawrence on third-and-4 for a 1-yard loss.
    — Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025
Definition of sacks
Verb
  • In the character's final scene, as the DEA raids her rural compound, Laurie ties a rope around her neck and jumps from the roof of her home.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
  • In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finally raids Laurie's property, thanks to the intel Rue had been giving them.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 1 June 2026
Definition of raids
Verb
  • The culminating episode, as the mob smashes and ransacks a hospital and terrorizes its patients, ultimately reveals a frail elderly man, standing naked and alone in an empty bathtub as the assailants approach.
    — John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Definition of ransacks

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Cite this Entry

“Loots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loots. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on loots

Nglish: Translation of loots for Spanish Speakers

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