1
as in plunders
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
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2
as in searches
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of ransacks
The culminating episode, as the mob smashes and ransacks a hospital and terrorizes its patients, ultimately reveals a frail elderly man, standing naked and alone in an empty bathtub as the assailants approach.
—
John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransacks
Verb
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Critics contend the industry plunders distressed companies, leading to downsizing and cost-cutting that hurts local communities, though other research has pushed back on that reputation.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 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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In Dallas — which is hosting more matches than any other US city — searches for housing options are up 230% from last summer, according to the Expedia data from January.—
Maya Davis,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
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The report reveals that searches for DIY home décor were up 79 percent year over year.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Adventure finds you through familiar friends.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
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Jimmy walks into his mentor's home and finds Ducky dead, peacefully in his sleep.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Israel blames Hamas for the scale of the destruction in Gaza, saying the group hides behind civilians, uses civil infrastructure for military purposes, and loots humanitarian aid intended for ordinary Gazans.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Manning, back for what is probably his final season, is on the short list of best returning quarterbacks in the country and edge rusher Colin Simmons won the SEC sacks title with 12.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Jan. 2026
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Riley Moss sacks a scrambling Trevor Lawrence on third-and-4 for a 1-yard loss.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
21 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ransacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransacks. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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