How does the verb pillage contrast with its synonyms?
Some common synonyms of pillage are despoil, devastate, ravage, sack, and waste. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.
settlements pillaged by Vikings
Where would despoil be a reasonable alternative to pillage?
In some situations, the words despoil and pillage are roughly equivalent. However, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.
the Nazis despoiled the art museums
When is it sensible to use devastate instead of pillage?
The synonyms devastate and pillage are sometimes interchangeable, but devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.
an earthquake devastated the city
When might ravage be a better fit than pillage?
While the synonyms ravage and pillage are close in meaning, ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.
a hurricane ravaged the coast
When would sack be a good substitute for pillage?
The words sack and pillage can be used in similar contexts, but sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.
barbarians sacked ancient Rome
When could waste be used to replace pillage?
The words waste and pillage are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.
years of drought had wasted the area
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pillage
Noun
As fans should know, the state’s pillage people have other means of extraction.—K. Lloyd Billingsley, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 In my youth, people who needed a geopolitical enemy looked for foes closer to home: US imperialism, capitalist pillage.—Laura Kipnis, WIRED, 5 Dec. 2023
Verb
For centuries, the East India Company, a commercial and military organization, pillaged the riches of India to fund the British Empire and the company’s own expansion.—Michael Knights, Foreign Affairs, 11 Mar. 2025 In December, gangs pillaged and set fire to the Bernard Mevs Hospital, one of the few critical-care facilities in the country.—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pillage
On Wednesday, aid reached Gaza’s main city for the first time since March after deliveries were plagued by looting and coordination issues between aid agencies and the Israeli military.
—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2025
The statues, stolen from Benin City in modern-day Nigeria, were looted by British troops at the end of the 19th century and sold on to museums across Europe.
Eight days later, in a game relocated to Glendale, Ariz., because of deadly wildfires in Southern California, Darnold was sacked nine times and had two turnovers (including a fumble returned for touchdown) in a 27-9 loss.
—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Nix turned the ball over just eight times and was sacked 20 times in those final 13 games.
Gaddis was an obscure state employee who was fired from his job last summer after leaking details of a secret plot by the DeSantis administration to despoil nine pristine Florida state parks with golf courses, pickleball courts and resort-style lodges — all to benefit his wealthy friends.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
17 June 2025
Anderson prefers to characterize Loewe as a cultural brand rather than a luxury one, finding the latter term despoiled.
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