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
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Recent Examples of ransacked
Seemingly half of the testers in the gondolas (Sephora-speak for brand shelving) at their Beverly Hills location looked like they had been ransacked by zombies.
—
Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 7 Apr. 2026
Someone had entered through her bathroom window, the only one in the house without an alarm, and ransacked the place.
—Rich Schapiro, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
The dark side featured the rise of Hitler, descriptions of Kristallnacht — when Nazi youth ransacked Jewish homes and stores in 1938 — and Nazi plans for the Final Solution, or genocide of all European Jews.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
With drum circles, ransacked guest rooms and theatrical confrontations staged across sandy paths and candlelit dinners, guests become active participants in the drama.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
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.
—February 25, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 7 Apr. 2026
Someone had entered through her bathroom window, the only one in the house without an alarm, and ransacked the place.
—Rich Schapiro, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
The dark side featured the rise of Hitler, descriptions of Kristallnacht — when Nazi youth ransacked Jewish homes and stores in 1938 — and Nazi plans for the Final Solution, or genocide of all European Jews.
—Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
With drum circles, ransacked guest rooms and theatrical confrontations staged across sandy paths and candlelit dinners, guests become active participants in the drama.
—Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
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.
—February 25, NPR, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransacked
Verb
-
The collapse of Prospect Medical, a for-profit hospital chain plundered by private equity and the company’s management, has generated a painful litany of woes.—
Peter Elkind,
ProPublica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Before being definitively plundered, the museum was home to the most comprehensive Nubian archaeological collection in the world.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At that point, Wise County deputies searched the FedEx truck for Athena but did not find her.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Following the business owner’s disappearance, law enforcement and volunteers have repeatedly searched the surrounding area.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The only time the family has been looted was in 2025, when a bear came into the yard and upturned the beehives.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
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The Jewish family had hidden in Lyon during World War II, only to learn that their apartment had been looted and rented in their absence.—
Shannon Fogg,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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OpenAI was on the verge of closing a large investment from Thrive, a venture-capital firm founded by Josh Kushner, Jared Kushner’s brother, whom Altman had known for years.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 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 couple had four eggs this season, but two were destroyed when their nest was raided by ravens.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
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After the service at Kheimeh Molaghat, over coffee and sweets in the church fellowship hall, Bahraman recounted how armed Iranian forces raided the home of his parents about 15 years ago, because their family had converted to Christianity.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His last year was his best, though he was sacked 36 times.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
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Thus, Albuquerque recaptured and sacked the city of Goa.—
Sanat Pai RaikarAll,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Apr. 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 12 Apr. 2026.
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