1
as in plundered
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 searched
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 ransacked
The group inside the building ransacked the furniture and at least one person appeared to steal a package before sirens were heard and people rushed back outside.
—
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Ben goes into Bailey’s room, which looks like someone just ransacked it, looking for a monster hiding under the bed that wasn’t there.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
The burglars ransacked both registers and took $1,000 cash, and also broke into the safe, which contained $5,000, Zamudio said.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption, and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota, remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception.
—February 25, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
Our oldest souqs had been ransacked and burnt to the ground.
—Yousra Elbagir, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
The operation set off a wave of civil unrest, with vehicles set ablaze, shops ransacked and gunmen believed to be supporters of Oseguera blocking highways in more than a dozen states.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
The agents pushed through the door and ransacked the family’s belongings.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Ben goes into Bailey’s room, which looks like someone just ransacked it, looking for a monster hiding under the bed that wasn’t there.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
The burglars ransacked both registers and took $1,000 cash, and also broke into the safe, which contained $5,000, Zamudio said.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026
The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption, and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
The Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota, remind us that there are large parts of the world where bribery, corruption and lawlessness are the norm, not the exception.
—February 25, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
Our oldest souqs had been ransacked and burnt to the ground.
—Yousra Elbagir, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
The operation set off a wave of civil unrest, with vehicles set ablaze, shops ransacked and gunmen believed to be supporters of Oseguera blocking highways in more than a dozen states.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
The agents pushed through the door and ransacked the family’s belongings.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransacked
Verb
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The area has been plundered for centuries.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
What’s the reward for being the most productively plundered of the mid-majors?—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Engineers have long searched for efficient electric alternatives that can survive the harsh conditions inside industrial systems.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The Sacramento Bee searched through Google Flights to find the most affordable one-way plane trip options for local travelers during March.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Shortly after the collapse of Hussein’s ruling party, crowds looted government offices and cultural sites.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
YggTorrent has since confirmed the hacker looted sensitive data, including user passwords.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Beyond, founded in 2009 and known primarily for its pea-protein burger patties and steaks, has had some turbulent times recently.—
Iris Kwok,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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The 53-year-old Japanese designer, who founded cult label Number (N)ine in 1997, is relaunching the brand 15 years after stepping away from it.—
Ashley Ogawa Clarke,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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North Texas — whose roster was pillaged in the portal and saw its top players leave for Oklahoma State alongside former head coach Eric Morris — have signed 42 transfers.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Jan. 2026
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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
Verb
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The day Johnson’s office hosted Mayor Kaohly Her at a Dayton’s Bluff coffee shop to hear from a panel of immigrant business owners, some participants arrived ashen-faced, reporting that ICE agents had raided a nearby Latin grocery on East Seventh Street.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
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Khamenka was detained in June after his house was raided and has spent more than a half year behind bars.—
Yuras Karmanau,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The documents show that after being sacked, Mandelson asked for a $732,000 payoff, the rest of his four-year salary.—
JILL LAWLESS AND BRIAN MELLEY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
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He was sacked 55 times, tying for the league high.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
11 Mar. 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
Cite this Entry
“Ransacked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransacked. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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