plunder 1 of 2

1
as in loot
valuables stolen or taken by force the thieves were promptly arrested when they tried to sell their plunder

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2

plunder

2 of 2

verb

as in to pillage
to search through with the intent of committing robbery the escaped convict plundered the house in search of valuables

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun plunder differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of plunder are booty, loot, prize, spoils, and spoil. While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

When could booty be used to replace plunder?

The words booty and plunder are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When would loot be a good substitute for plunder?

The synonyms loot and plunder are sometimes interchangeable, but loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

When is prize a more appropriate choice than plunder?

Although the words prize and plunder 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 plunder?

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

Examples 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 plunder
Noun
Half of nature, of each ecosystem, is protected from plunder in perpetuity. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, TIME, 17 Sep. 2024 The display of these works is supposed to prove the excellence of a system, the same system that is responsible for colonial plunder. Manuel Borja-Villel, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2024
Verb
On Netflix As Streamer Sets Season 2 Premiere Season two, however, does not offer viewers, who are likely plundering through the seven-part series right now, the same level of closure. Peter White, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2024 Back to the books Despite the immense size and value of the IP, NetEase was given full freedom to plunder the Marvel Universe and history books for the game’s inspiration and direct adaptation. Echo Apsey, Rolling Stone, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for plunder 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunder
Noun
  • Remy and Mike are ready to call it quits after Bo (executive producer Jamie Lee Curtis) ostensibly falls to her death and Charlie (Mark O’Brien) growls his threats from Boston, but Ruth’s idea to use a tanker truck gets them back in with the hope of an even greater loot than before.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 7 Dec. 2024
  • The presentation is more in the vein of the board from the Civilization games — as maps are completed, the board will expand, removing a fog of war to unlock more maps and specific destinations with modifiers, loot, and so on.
    Diego Argüello, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • What’s changed is the Leafs are no longer a possession team (24th in the league).
    James Mirtle, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Some of the court filings submitted by the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., include evidence of guns allegedly in rioters' possession.
    Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Her crew pillages the ship for any remaining resources, but their only reward for their betrayal of principles is some lamp oil and six bottles of brandy.
    Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Then, around 614-612 B.C., invaders from Babylonia (modern-day southern and central Iraq) and Media (modern-day western Iran) pillaged and burned the temple as the Assyrian Empire collapsed at the hands of its enemies.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Ewers was sacked and stripped by former five-star recruit and his Ohio State former roommate.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Jan. 2025
  • On Tuesday, West Ham United sacked Julen Lopetegui (formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers) and replaced him with Graham Potter (formerly of Chelsea and Brighton).
    Phil Hay, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The challenge has always been to figure out how to personalize things without spending inordinate amounts of time and money mapping out every possible path a student might take.
    Ray Ravaglia, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
  • As a business owner, higher profit margins, all other things being equal, are more valuable.
    Bill Stone, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The world is a stakeholder, not a bystander, and cannot remain silent as Brazil despoils this indispensable carbon sink, irreplaceable oxygen source, and precious repository of plant and animal life.
    Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021
  • Meanwhile, human activity has imperiled biodiversity as people despoil lands and waters, introduce invasive species, and harvest natural resources unsustainably.
    Stewart Patrick, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2021
Noun
  • Her own childhood could have been the stuff of an Audiard movie.
    Julian Sancton, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Jan. 2025
  • Make sure to get a good sear on the beef tips in the skillet, and don't skimp on the sour cream. get the recipe 03 of 21 Old-Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings Classic chicken 'n dumplings epitomizes quintessential Southern cuisine, combining all the good stuff in one singular bowl.
    Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Listen to this article On Oct. 1, 2020, federal agents raided the home of an Adams County man.
    Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, 9 Jan. 2025
  • This small insectivorous bird disappeared as rats raided its nests.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near plunder

Cite this Entry

“Plunder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plunder. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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