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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of ransack
Rubio said Cuba’s current crisis should be blamed on the military officials behind GAESA, which has ransacked the country’s revenue for their benefit, leaving most Cubans impoverished.
—
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
On May 5, a person returned to their Westlake Village home and found that the house had been ransacked and multiple things had been stolen.
—Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
After John’s death in 1777, the British ransacked the Morton residence and Ann was forced to flee with her family across the Delaware River.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
The masked home invaders that ransacked a Winnetka residence in search of cryptocurrency accounts in March held a person face-down on the ground as a child ran for help, new court filings allege.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026
On May 5, a person returned to their Westlake Village home and found that the house had been ransacked and multiple things had been stolen.
—Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
After John’s death in 1777, the British ransacked the Morton residence and Ann was forced to flee with her family across the Delaware River.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
The masked home invaders that ransacked a Winnetka residence in search of cryptocurrency accounts in March held a person face-down on the ground as a child ran for help, new court filings allege.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransack
Verb
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But Texas Tech isn't the only program from the Lone Star State whose commit list LSU is plundering.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
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Later on, plundering Barbary pirates raided Mallorca, looting possessions, slaughtering inhabitants and capturing others for the slave trade.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Jackson and his confidante allegedly ordered child pornography At the end of Episode 1, Amen describes how many of Jackson’s associates had their homes searched in the wake of his arrest.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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The bees will form a temporary cluster, hanging out while scouts search the surrounding area for a more permanent home in hollow spaces like tree cavities or, occasionally, the walls of a home.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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By greatly expanding the dimensions of his images, with their muted palettes, tight cropping, found symmetries, and laconic wit, had the maestro of the photographic epigram betrayed his subtractive aesthetic?—
James Quandt,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Everyone will find the easy-access power outlets and bedside controls a plus.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Lopetegui was sacked by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) the next day and replaced by Fernando Hierro.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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Opponents sacked Herbert 54 times last season, a career high.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Police stopped the violence there that night, but more racist beatings and looting erupted downtown.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
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Russia utilizes short-term instability to essentially loot developing countries to prop up its own beleaguered economy, which is dragged down by sanctions.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
30 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
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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
Verb
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Sukhmati described how her comrades would raid police stations to steal weapons.—
Dhruv Tikekar,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
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The hotel was raided by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and FBI agents — some wearing green camoflauge and riding in military-style vehicles — after a six-month investigation revealed a drug dealing, Ferguson said.—
Jeff A. Chamer
May 30,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ransack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransack. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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