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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ransacked
Officer Sean Lally told the court on Monday that the woman's room appeared ransacked and alleged that Jankauskas had broken a mirror and a bed.
—
Adam England, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
On April 18, Fort Lauderdale officers were called to an Airbnb in the 1600 block of Northwest 16th Court after a group of women who had rented the home returned to find it in disarray, furniture flipped over, their belongings ransacked a man inside.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2026
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
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office said one of the victims returned right after the burglary happened and found their home ransacked, with the suspects getting away with $100,000 worth of their valuables.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 12 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
On the drive back to her dormitory, Daisy sees that the florist’s shop has been ransacked.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
Adam England, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
On April 18, Fort Lauderdale officers were called to an Airbnb in the 1600 block of Northwest 16th Court after a group of women who had rented the home returned to find it in disarray, furniture flipped over, their belongings ransacked a man inside.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2026
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
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office said one of the victims returned right after the burglary happened and found their home ransacked, with the suspects getting away with $100,000 worth of their valuables.
—Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 12 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
On the drive back to her dormitory, Daisy sees that the florist’s shop has been ransacked.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransacked
Verb
-
Which were left to be plundered and destroyed?—
Amer Matar,
The Dial,
26 May 2026
-
Kylian Mbappe will win the Pichichi top-scorer prize amid all the chaos at Real Madrid while Verdat Muriqi, nicknamed the pirate, has plundered 22 goals in a struggling Mallorca side.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Police searched Alvarez and discovered two plates of military-grade body armor in the trunk of his car, according to the criminal complaint.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies on Friday searched a medical building in Carmichael after receiving what turned about to be unfounded reports of an intruder.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Armed gangs, now in control of most of the capital, have emptied out entire neighborhoods, shuttered schools and set looted and set fire to hospitals.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
-
The mob burned and looted Shepherd’s home while attacking surrounding homes and businesses.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The backstory The property opened in March 2015 as the first hotel of the 1 Hotels brand founded by Barry Sternlight, and resides in the former Gansevoort Hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
The Tea Party, that movement of grass-roots right-wing anger that evolved into MAGA, was founded the same year.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
The hotel was raided by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police and FBI agents — some wearing green camoflauge and riding in military-style vehicles — after a six-month investigation revealed a drug dealing, Ferguson said.—
Jeff A. Chamer
May 30,
Charlotte Observer,
30 May 2026
-
The State Election Board has quietly hired an activist who has challenged the registrations of thousands of Fulton County voters and who cheered as the FBI raided a county ballot warehouse in January to be the board’s official state investigator, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned.—
Caleb Groves,
AJC.com,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Then, just three plays later, Grier was sacked by Saints defensive end Cam Jordan.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
4 June 2026
-
During Wednesday’s open-media look, Thomas flew around the edge during 11-on-11 and would have likely sacked quarterback Justin Fields in a game situation.—
Pete Sweeney
June 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
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 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
