1
as in to plunder
to search through with the intent of committing robbery
it was clear that the thieves who had ransacked the museum were professionals—they bypassed most of the exhibits and went straight for the vaults
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to search
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something
I've ransacked the whole house for that book you lent me and it's nowhere to be found
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ransack
More than a thousand fires burned, and more than a thousand shops were ransacked.
—
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Pitt's home in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles was ransacked by burglars in June when, police said, three suspects broke into his through a front window after jumping over a fence to gain entry to the yard.
—Alex Stone, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2025
The demonstrations, some of the largest in American history, recalled the long hot summer of 1967, when protesters whose lives had only been meagerly improved by recent civil-rights legislation ransacked storefronts in Newark and Detroit.
—Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
Last year, one of its stores in Hull, a port city on the northeast coast, was ransacked amid far-right, anti-immigrant protests.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Pitt's home in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles was ransacked by burglars in June when, police said, three suspects broke into his through a front window after jumping over a fence to gain entry to the yard.
—Alex Stone, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2025
The demonstrations, some of the largest in American history, recalled the long hot summer of 1967, when protesters whose lives had only been meagerly improved by recent civil-rights legislation ransacked storefronts in Newark and Detroit.
—Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2025
Last year, one of its stores in Hull, a port city on the northeast coast, was ransacked amid far-right, anti-immigrant protests.
—Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransack
Verb
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While plundering a dungeon lair and stealing artifacts from a museum both have heist elements to them, Skullduggery looks into the other intrigues of adventures in urban environments.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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The towns of Harrisonville, Butler and Osceola were plundered during Bleeding Kansas.—
Quentin Corpuel,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Staffers frantically searched for updates on his condition.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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Users can search for specific properties of geologic units or click on the map for additional geologic information and links to more detailed maps of local areas.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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The 23-year-old winger dropped from a career-high 57 points in 2023-24 to 45 last season, and finding ways to get him back on track is a top priority.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
18 Sep. 2025
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The laptop's standard 1600p screen is its standout feature, displaying superior detail and sharpness to the full HD panels often found in this price bracket.—
Charles Jefferies,
PC Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, Morgan's hopes of pulling off her surprise for Uncle Tommy get sacked.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, Morgan’s hopes of pulling off her surprise for Uncle Tommy get sacked.—
Rebecca Angel Baer,
Southern Living,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cox also called for restraint in reaction to Kirk’s assassination, noting that residents of Utah did not riot or loot or engage in violence, and instead held vigils and said prayers.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
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Protesters smashed windows and looted local businesses and set government buildings on fire.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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The charges come after the FBI in June 2022 raided at least three churches associated with the House of Prayer Christian Churches in Georgia and Texas, established just miles from Fort Gordon, Fort Stewart and Fort Hood.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Caracas on Saturday accused the US of raiding a Venezuelan fishing boat while in Venezuelan waters, underscoring the rising tensions in the region.—
Claire Cameron,
semafor.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ransack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransack. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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