pillaging 1 of 2

pillaging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pillage
as in plundering
to search through with the intent of committing robbery soldiers pillaging the countryside for anything of value

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 pillaging
Noun
Homer may have viewed Odysseus’s deceit and pillaging as glorious. — Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026 Taking the Scenic Route Home After their successful sneak-attack pillaging of Troy, Odysseus’ comrade Menelaus (Jon Bernthal) and his men pack up and head back to Sparta. — Whitney Friedlander, Vulture, 17 July 2026 Amid the pillaging of homes, Roman magistrates were likely sent to the city to prevent an anarchic type of existence, based on ancient literary sources the authors referenced in the study. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025 In fact, researchers know that pirates – basically just thieves on the water – targeted these river boats, because Egyptian pharaohs left records grumbling about pirates and their widespread pillaging. — Brandon Prins, The Conversation, 14 July 2025
Verb
Sudan’s civil war, a conflict credibly described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, has seen violence matched only by the belligerents’ rapacity in pillaging the country’s riches. — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 Sometimes the very entities owning these hospitals and nursing homes are purposely bankrupting them, pillaging them of their value to maximize the owners’ profits. — Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 At a time when security measures were more relaxed, hard-up antique print dealer Robert Kindred spent the summer of 1980 pillaging rare books and antique illustrations from academic libraries nationwide. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 15 July 2026 But now, entry-level professionals are clinging to their childhood bedrooms and pillaging their family fridges as more are extending their stay than ever before. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 June 2026 Some commentators’ dark horses for the tournament, Norway qualified from Europe with a perfect record, pillaging goals at will, while mercilessly dispatching opponents. — Jonathan Thompson, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026 Picking up where episode 7 left off, Wayne (Toby Wallace) wakes up to Rue pillaging his safe. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026 OpenAI has been pillaging Apple’s hardware engineering ranks for talent to work on competitors to Apple’s smart home and mobile devices, while Meta is revamping its own AI wearables. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 May 2026 Then Joe Biden and his corrupt administration comes along and makes matters worse, allowing thousands of criminals to enter our country illegally, pillaging Americans while being pampered in luxury hotels on our dime. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillaging
Noun
  • Following the 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, burning, looting and other forms of mayhem broke out in Minneapolis and many other cities across America.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Current unchecked looting will forever handcuff future generations if not reversed with fair-share taxes coupled with strategic spending cuts over lobbyists’ objections.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In fact, plundering England’s lower leagues is a rich source of unique goals, from Ballard’s spectacular effort to this cheeky one from Crewe Alexandra striker Josh March in their 1-0 League Two win over Northampton on Saturday.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Nearly three decades later, Cornelius is still partying and plundering, though usually in a more relaxed fashion and with less of a Beach Boys influence.
    — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Police have launched a homicide investigation after a man died from injuries suffered in an altercation that was initially reported as a possible strong-arm robbery, a police spokesman said.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Victims of gun violence, police violence, robberies, and addictions walk the streets outside, repeating their last movements, behaviors, and desires.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the bubble wrap will be coming off against a marauding Denver defense.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Supposedly posing a threat to their idyll on the outskirts are various marauding splinter groups running amok through the barren wasteland of the American Mountain West.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • That compares with 21 depredations by wolves so far this year, with about $25,000 paid to ranchers whose cattle were killed by wolves.
    — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The agency rarely gets involved to lethally remove a wolf who has been involved in depredation events, though this year the agency has intervened a few times.
    — Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Detroit's pass rush sacked Smith five times for 44 yards, two weeks after sacking the New Orleans Saints' Tyler Shough five times in an overtime victory.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The Hurricanes were constantly in the backfield, sacking CMU quarterbacks four times.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 27 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • To the family’s lawyer, Markus Stötzel, the case is a typical example of Nazi plunder in need of immediate restoration.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
  • The second — a fastball Horwitz hit about 100 mph for a double to right field — was the start of a Pirate plunder at Sutter Health Park.
    — Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Turkish authorities launched an unprecedented crackdown on the country’s LGBT community on Sunday, raiding gay bars and shutting down activist organizations, in what the government said are efforts to protect Turkey’s family values.
    — Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2026
  • On Sunday, Turkish authorities cracked down on multiple LGBTQ+ groups and individuals, detaining dozens of members, breaking into association offices and raiding popular hangouts.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Pillaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pillaging. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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