Synonyms of ransack

ransack

verb

ˈran-ˌsak 

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

• plunder
• pillage
• sack
• loot
• despoil
• raid
• maraud
• steal (from)
• rifle
• rummage
• rake
• comb
• burglarize
• hunt
• break in
• ravish
• rip off
• harry

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

• search
• find
• scour
• scan
• locate
• explore
• comb
• investigate
• examine
• rummage
• rake
• inspect
• rifle
• survey
• dredge
• dig (through)
• hunt (through)
• discover
• sort (through)
• troll
• scrutinize
• ascertain
• determine
• detect
• review
• learn
• check (out)
• find out
• audit
• track (down)
• peruse
• hit (on or upon)
• run down
• poke (around)
• browse
• shake down
• get
• probe
• frisk
• snoop
• study
• pat down
• look over
• prospect
• glance (over)
• descry
• ferret (out)
• scare up
• grub (about)
• skirmish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hide
• lose
• abandon
• ignore
• neglect

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ransack

In Paris, luxury boutiques were ransacked and storefronts smashed. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026

Store windows in Paris, Nantes and Lyon were broken, but the stores weren’t ransacked and have since reopened. — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026

Paris ransacked, looted, and set ablaze by hordes of rioters. — Ollivier Pourriol, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026

Protests leading to looting have resulted in more than 3,000 businesses and retail shops being ransacked. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026

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