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
Thieves ransacked the home and took an unknown amount of miscellaneous property, officials said.
—
Andrew Blankstein, NBC news, 26 June 2025
The jewelry boutique ransacked by gunmen in Episode 2 was filmed here, as was the security booth where Gaitok stood guard.
—Ashlee Marie Preston, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
An order of Buddhist monks in South Korea were shocked in the summer of 1989 when their temple was ransacked during a violent thunderstorm.
—Zachary Small, New York Times, 13 June 2025
The infestation began with lo-fi beats, which mercenaries ransacked and rewired into a black hole of mindless loops.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Andrew Blankstein, NBC news, 26 June 2025
The jewelry boutique ransacked by gunmen in Episode 2 was filmed here, as was the security booth where Gaitok stood guard.
—Ashlee Marie Preston, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
An order of Buddhist monks in South Korea were shocked in the summer of 1989 when their temple was ransacked during a violent thunderstorm.
—Zachary Small, New York Times, 13 June 2025
The infestation began with lo-fi beats, which mercenaries ransacked and rewired into a black hole of mindless loops.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransack
Verb
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Everybody could be tracked through their phone signal, and bank and cryptocurrency accounts could be plundered on a whim.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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Although the passengers managed to swim or be hauled on ropes to shore, much of the ship’s cargo—which included tea, brandy, nails, iron, and Wright’s paintings—was lost, washed out of the ship’s hold and either plundered by a passing privateer and people living nearby or sunk below the waves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 July 2025
Verb
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Louisville Metro Police Department is searching for an unknown driver after a bicyclist was struck in a fatal hit-and-run accident Aug. 11.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
12 Aug. 2025
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Security and regulations Attendees will go through a metal detection system and all bags will be searched.—
Andy Humbles,
The Tennessean,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The warriors who pillaged distant lands, for instance, returned with at least 20,000 elephants, lions, leopards and other exotic creatures that were paraded in public spaces and killed in gruesome displays of power, their meat likely distributed to city residents.—
Krista Langlois,
Smithsonian Magazine,
7 July 2025
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The map is no longer an obstacle, freeing you up to focus on pillaging loot and preparing your character.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Clarendon Hills found itself in the elimination bracket by virtue of a 16-1 loss Wednesday to the Mountain Region and Nevada State champion from Las Vegas, which improved to 2-0 Saturday with a 5-3 win over the Northwest Region champs from Washington.—
Chuck Fieldman,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Aug. 2025
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Du Plessis – who was making the third defense of his belt – had no answer to Chimaev’s grappling and found himself on the mat within the opening minute of the fight.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The theory is that Favre took a dive so that New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan could sack him and break Gastineau’s record.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Wilson led the Dolphins to touchdowns on both his drives after replacing Tagovailoa for the second series of a 24-24 tie with Chicago last week, and he was sacked four times.—
Jack Magruder,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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On Valentine’s Day, the home of Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban was burglarized after intruders allegedly smashed their way in before looting the residence.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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The Netanyahu government has repeatedly denied that a famine is taking place or that Israel is attempting to starve Palestinians by choking off food aid into the territories — often claiming that, despite scant evidence, Hamas is looting the supplies.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
11 Aug. 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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While raiding the minibar at your hotel could probably contribute to bags under your eyes, the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles‘s new amenity is a fridge full of products to make your face look great instead.—
India Brown,
Robb Report,
13 Aug. 2025
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In 2011, federal agents raided the shantytown and made dozens of arrests.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ransack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransack. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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