plunder 1 of 2

1
as in loot
valuables stolen or taken by force the thieves were promptly arrested when they tried to sell their plunder

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2

plunder

2 of 2

verb

as in to pillage
to search through with the intent of committing robbery the escaped convict plundered the house in search of valuables

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun plunder differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of plunder are booty, loot, prize, spoils, and spoil. While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

When could booty be used to replace plunder?

The words booty and plunder are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When would loot be a good substitute for plunder?

The synonyms loot and plunder are sometimes interchangeable, but loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

When is prize a more appropriate choice than plunder?

Although the words prize and plunder have much in common, prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy.

the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

How do spoil and spoils relate to one another, in the sense of plunder?

Spoil, more commonly spoils, applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest.

the spoils of political victory

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 plunder
Noun
At the Jeu de Paume museum, Valland took many risks to safeguard its treasures and record the massive plunder of artwork across France. Pat Tompkins, AFAR Media, 18 June 2025 Trouble is, the elder Broadway managed to cheat St. Christopher out of his share of the plunder. Joe Leydon, Variety, 13 June 2025
Verb
These will hold a particular interest for the Bloomsbury enthusiast because the majority of them are previously unpublished (an impressive feat, given how often the various archives have been plundered by other biographers). Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025 Owen is the exception to the rule, having a gilded career first at Anfield and then at Real Madrid, all while plundering goals for England. Gregg Evans, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for plunder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunder
Noun
  • An investor may need to adjust future cash flows if the studio relies on loot boxes in regions where probability disclosures are trending toward mandatory.
    Dmitrii Khasanov, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Stolen loot included two $500 guns and an $800 firearm, the reports show.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Protect your property and possessions from fire, theft, and other unexpected perils.
    Liz Knueven, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
  • His record includes larceny, theft, and marijuana possession, the agency said.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • After the Broncos’ frontmen pillaged San Francisco for the better part of two hours, Castle Rock native and 49er Christian McCaffrey stood in front of reporters and confirmed what Denver’s offense has known for a few months.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The paper notices warning of upcoming cleanups have a phone number for people to call when belongings are taken, and the city is supposed to hold onto that property for at least 90 days before it is thrown away.
    Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Its durable hard shell protects your belongings from rough handling, and the smooth wheels make airport navigation a breeze.
    Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Notre Dame fell 27-24 to Miami in the season opener, when Carr was sacked three times.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Being sacked by Chelsea and then West Ham in less than three years is slightly different to winning league and European trophies and being a statue-level hero at three different clubs, or taking England to two major finals and making the national team likeable again.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Shannon tries to ram the trainers with elbows because, yeah, Shannon does those kinds of things.
    Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
  • That means creative packing, while also keeping things as lightweight as possible to stay mobile.
    Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Decades of despoiling water bodies have taken a terrible toll, filling water bodies with fetid algae that blocks sunlight and smothers the native seagrass beds that are a main food source for manatees.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 June 2025
  • 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
Noun
  • But this stuff is taken personally, and there is also a financial backend here.
    Senior Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • As far as family, kids, wife, all that stuff going on.
    Law Murray, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Plunder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plunder. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025.

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