as in plundered
to search through with the intent of committing robbery
soldiers pillaging the countryside for anything of value
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of pillaged
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
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
Many prehistoric structures were pillaged for rock, but a remarkable number are intact.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
At the same time, members of the powerful Viv Ansanm gang coalition had pillaged and/or burned at least 410 residences and other buildings, including six schools, health centers and local nongovernmental organizations during the period.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
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
Many prehistoric structures were pillaged for rock, but a remarkable number are intact.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
At the same time, members of the powerful Viv Ansanm gang coalition had pillaged and/or burned at least 410 residences and other buildings, including six schools, health centers and local nongovernmental organizations during the period.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillaged
Verb
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But Klaasen didn’t hold back and shared an 80-run stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made 21, and then Salil Arora (30 not out) plundered three sixes and two fours as Hyderabad notched its fifth straight win.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2026
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Five years after the Halifax Resolves were adopted, the British army briefly occupied the town and plundered its homes, according to the North Carolina Division of State Historic Sites and Properties.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Roughly 100,000 artworks were looted in France during the war, according to a report published by the Working Party on the Spoliation of Jews in France, set up by the French government in 1997.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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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
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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Starmer sacked Mandelson last September after a trove of emails revealed the depth of his ties with Epstein.—
Elizabeth Piper,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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Three months later, the city sacked the police and fire chiefs, announcing the decision late on a Friday.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The action came three months after French law enforcement authorities raided X’s Paris office and summoned Musk for questioning.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
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The Upper East Side townhouse had been raided by the FBI two years earlier.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pillaged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pillaged. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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