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
After the Second Temple of Jerusalem was ransacked by Antiochus, there was only enough oil in the jar to burn for a single day.
—
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Dec. 2025
Following Prentice's death and burial in his mausoleum, Wicks' mother, Grace (Annie Hamilton), had ransacked the chapel searching for the diamond in her desperation to escape her life of shame and mistreatment at the church, but died in her pursuit of it.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 12 Dec. 2025
An unlikely suspect was taken into custody after a break-in at a Virginia liquor store this week—an intoxicated raccoon that authorities say ransacked the shop and later passed out in a bathroom.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
The infamous figure emerges out of hiding to make easy work of the military operation in Hawkins as Demogorgons ransack the base.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Dec. 2025
Following Prentice's death and burial in his mausoleum, Wicks' mother, Grace (Annie Hamilton), had ransacked the chapel searching for the diamond in her desperation to escape her life of shame and mistreatment at the church, but died in her pursuit of it.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 12 Dec. 2025
An unlikely suspect was taken into custody after a break-in at a Virginia liquor store this week—an intoxicated raccoon that authorities say ransacked the shop and later passed out in a bathroom.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
The infamous figure emerges out of hiding to make easy work of the military operation in Hawkins as Demogorgons ransack the base.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransack
Verb
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And how is attacking Venezuela with impunity any different from any other dictator plundering sovereign countries?—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
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By delegitimizing the Islamic Republic as an occupying force—one that plunders national wealth to subsidize regional proxies—the opposition has effectively subverted the regime’s nationalist rhetoric.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Irvine police are searching for a woman who left a Bible on an Irvine resident's doorstep after stealing a person's package last month.—
Michele Gile,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
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Hannah Natanson, who covers the federal government, was at home when the FBI searched the property and her devices, seizing a phone, Garmin watch and both a personal and work laptop, according to the news organization.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In a landscape of sequels and overly pillaged IP, the Stranger Things finale is finite and close-ended, the credits rolling once and for all.—
Yohana Desta,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2026
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Certainly, its portrait of a futuristic society dominated by raping, pillaging youth gangs speaking a bizarre Russian-English hybrid slang struck a few different nerves — as did its tale of one teenage sociopath’s questionable reprogramming back into society after a stint in prison.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Investigators also found eight 9 mm casings fired from a Glock pistol at the scene where Holmes was killed, according to the affidavit.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2026
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In doing so, the judge found he could not be involved in the handling of the separate probes related to the civil fraud investigation and the NRA.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Philly flashbacks There was no shortage of hard feelings (and maybe some sour grapes) when the 49ers lost 31-7 in the NFC Championship Game following the 2022 season when Haason Reddick sacked Purdy and tore the UCL in his right elbow.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Miami punts The Hurricanes once again got past midfield, but Carson Beck was then sacked on back-to-back plays to force a Miami punt.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For months, mausoleums in the graveyard, some more than a hundred years old, were being looted in the dead of night, police said.—
Gaya Gupta,
Washington Post,
10 Jan. 2026
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Dozens of people, mostly in Minnesota’s substantial Somali population, have been charged with looting the program by setting up companies that billed the state for supplying food that was never delivered.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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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That January, the FBI raided the office of Feeding Our Future, and the Minnesota Department of Education cut off its funding.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
11 Jan. 2026
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Federal authorities have raided the East Texas ranch of a dog breeder who was recorded on video shooting and killing one of her animals.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ransack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransack. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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