as in plundered
to search through with the intent of committing robbery
soldiers pillaging the countryside for anything of value
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Recent Examples of pillaged
For decades, tomb raiders have pillaged sites across the country, selling them on the black market.
—
Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
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
Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillaged
Verb
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Messi played a gorgeous pass that led to a Lautaro Martinez chance and, on the hour mark, plundered his second of the night after a goalkeeping error.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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Which were left to be plundered and destroyed?—
Amer Matar,
The Dial,
26 May 2026
Verb
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The sandstone artifact, which depicts the Hindu epic character Duryodhana, had in fact been looted from Koh Ker in or around 1972, after the all-important UNESCO convention.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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Rioters again attacked police with rocks, bottles and other objects, and looted and burned local buildings.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 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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Renard, 57, has been out of management since being sacked by Saudi Arabia in April, bringing his second stint with the national team to an end.—
Sam Joseph,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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Greek coach Georgios Donis was appointed just two months ago after Saudi Arabia sacked former coach Hervé Renard.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
Verb
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The headquarters of his governing Socialist party has been raided by police, and several close allies have been the target of investigations, including former Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and former right-hand man José Luis Ábalos.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
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According to the Créteil prosecutor’s office, criminal investigators raided a home in the Paris suburb on June 15, expecting to find a cache of drugs.—
Séraphine Roger,
Vanity Fair,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pillaged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pillaged. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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