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loot

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verb

as in to plunder
to search through with the intent of committing robbery the bandits looted the archaeological dig before riding off into the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun loot differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of loot are booty, plunder, prize, spoils, and spoil. While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

When could booty be used to replace loot?

While in some cases nearly identical to loot, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When might plunder be a better fit than loot?

In some situations, the words plunder and loot are roughly equivalent. However, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

In what contexts can prize take the place of loot?

Although the words prize and loot have much in common, prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy.

the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

How do spoil and spoils relate to one another, in the sense of loot?

Spoil, more commonly spoils, applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest.

the spoils of political victory

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 loot
Noun
Here are some ideas to celebrate love without a lot of loot. Marla Jo Fisher, Orange County Register, 8 Feb. 2025 Backyard Sports has never featured loot boxes or microtransactions, and locking a character like Pablo Sanchez behind an additional paywall would spark a fan revolt, causing parents to be hesitant to support the games. Jake Lang, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
While efforts to speed disaster aid to areas of California hit hard by wildfires languish, lawmakers Monday offered other measures, notably an effort to make arson and looting during a wildfire a federal crime. David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 27 Jan. 2025 Image Another problem plaguing aid distribution in Gaza for months was looting, which diverted much of the aid meant for civilians. Vivian Yee, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for loot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loot
Noun
  • Swiss zoologists, botanists, engineers, priests and nuns from missionary societies, merchants and rentier businesspeople, warlords and mercenaries ventured out to participate in plunder and looting as adjuncts or sidekicks of the stronger world powers and financiers.
    Percy Zvomuya, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Major museums in the West devoted to the presentation and preservation of art objects have fitfully begun acknowledging their ties to histories of violence and plunder.
    Leslie Camhi, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Strong cash flows helped the firm swing to a net cash position of £475 million from having net debt of £2 billion in 2023.
    Royston Wild, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The group expects a return to revenue growth and positive cash generation this year along with steady margins.
    Giulio Piovaccari, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The four-man pass rush generated 16 pressures and sacked Mahomes six times, the most in his career.
    Nate Taylor, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The Philadelphia Eagles completely stymied the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense in Super Bowl LIX, sacking Patrick Mahomes and causing three turnovers on their way to a big win.
    Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Vaughn uncovered some hidden treasures during his road trips.
    Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025
  • With the help of a youngster named Noah, Majima pumps the brakes on his gangster life to fix his amnesia, and ultimately embark on an adventure to become a legendary pirate and uncover a massive payload of treasure.
    Isaiah Colbert, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • But professional and personal challenges preceded the LP's success: In 1998, the Backstreet Boys left their management group and were entangled in a lawsuit with businessman Lou Pearlman over the amount of money earned for their first two albums.
    Ralphie Aversa, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
  • John Locke, for instance, marveled at reports suggesting that Indigenous Americans had no notion of money.
    Marjoleine Kars, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Capitals were pillaged, towns were razed, and friendships were irreparably fractured.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
  • Reports and social media videos showed the region's factories pillaged and prisons emptied while electricity remained on and communication lines open in most places.
    JUSTIN KABUMBA, arkansasonline.com, 16 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • These methods work for a coin or two, but would be cumbersome for large deals.
    Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The Bahamas Assembly approved the coins, commissioning the Soho Mint in Birmingham, England, to produce them.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • After it was flagged to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 2016, her home was raided.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Shortly thereafter, federal agents raided the Department of Education’s (DOE) headquarters at Tweed Courthouse, searching for further evidence of corruption.
    Matt Gonzales, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Loot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loot. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

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