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
The artwork was plundered by French troops in 1892, and the pieces’ return to Benin more almost 150 years later caused an outrage among University of Abomey-Calavi students. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2024 The Trojans and Tigers could sing a depressing duet about two Heisman winners going pro, two offenses plundered by the draft, and two new coordinators desperately trying to rebuild some semblance of a functional defense. Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 29 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for plunder 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunder
Noun
  • Starting today, fans have access to the original map, loot, locations, OG pass and gameplay, as well as zero build, solos and squad modes, which became available this morning.
    Alex Perry, The Enquirer, 6 Dec. 2024
  • There were all kinds of things to spend real money on, including loot boxes for unlocking rare items.
    Andrew Webster, The Verge, 3 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Police found Mangione in possession of a fake New Jersey ID that matches the one used by the suspect to check into a hostel on the Upper West Side of Manhattan 10 days before the shooting.
    Nik Popli, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested on weapons charges and was said to be in possession of a gun similar to the one used in the shooting.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The Roman Empire continues to grow, pillaging every culture in its path and forcing the survivors to fight for their lives in the ring.
    Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
  • More than 33,000 people fled Haiti’s capital in a span of less than two weeks as gangs pillaged homes and attacked state institutions, according to a report last month from the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration.
    Elliot Spagat, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Verb
  • In March, the FBI raided the facility, leading the agency to sack its current warden after less than three months on the job.
    Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 7 Dec. 2024
  • Williams drove the Bears into Lions territory in a bid to set up a field goal which would’ve sent the game to overtime, but the 2024 No. 1 overall pick was sacked on second-and-20 from the 35-yard line.
    Ben Morse, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Do the wonders of the natural world draw you closer to all things green?
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Traditionally, vehicle owners took their cars and trucks to dealerships, garages and other providers of service for such things as oil changes, tire rotation, battery replacement, and work related to recalls.
    Bill Koenig, Forbes, 11 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
  • Lauren Goode: Total Nextdoor vibes or stuff about relationship drama, really messy situations.
    Lauren Goode, WIRED, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Comments There was a lot of flat-out amazing stuff on Survivor 47’'s penultimate episode.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Daniel Karmann | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Adidas’ German headquarters was raided on Tuesday in connection with a yearslong tax investigation, the company confirmed to CNBC in a statement.
    Gabrielle Fonrouge,Jessica Golden, CNBC, 10 Dec. 2024
  • Also, in 2021, the place was raided by the F.B.I. Check for bugs.
    Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near plunder

Cite this Entry

“Plunder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plunder. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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