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
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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Messi played a gorgeous pass that led to a Lautaro Martinez chance and, on the hour mark, plundered his second of the night after a goalkeeping error.
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After sailing past Scylla and Charybdis (and losing six men), Odysseus lands in Thrinacia, where his companions plunder the Cattle of the Sun.
Verb
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In the last three months alone, Depop searches for babydoll dresses have increased by 144%, Y2K low- rise jeans by 102%, and peep toe heels by 108%, according to the platform.
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Enterprises and boards are continually searching for advantages and opportunities.
Verb
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For decades, tomb raiders have pillaged sites across the country, selling them on the black market.
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Some commentators’ dark horses for the tournament, Norway qualified from Europe with a perfect record, pillaging goals at will, while mercilessly dispatching opponents.
Verb
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Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.
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His attorneys contend the containers found on Pino’s boat were collected from other friends’ vessels partying with them on the sandbar that day.
Verb
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He was sacked in December 2024 after winning just twice in the Premier League to begin the 2024-25 campaign.
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The result was so emphatic that the Tunisian soccer federation acted fast, sacking manager Sabri Lamouchi just hours after.
Verb
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The sandstone artifact, which depicts the Hindu epic character Duryodhana, had in fact been looted from Koh Ker in or around 1972, after the all-important UNESCO convention.
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Rioters again attacked police with rocks, bottles and other objects, and looted and burned local buildings.
Verb
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One looks to the story of the Haitian World Cup team, appearing in the tournament for the first time in fifty years, which has gathered expatriate players from the Haitian diaspora to play for that beautiful and utterly despoiled country, where many of them have never lived.
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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.
Verb
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New York police executing a search warrant raided an LGBTQ+ bar called the Stonewall Inn, and some of the patrons resisted as officers continued interrogating them and bar employees.
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Gordon worked with archeologists to match statues to specific sites that Toek Tik raided, mapping out looting networks.
Cite this Entry
“Ransack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransack. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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