1
as in to plunder
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
Relevance
2
as in to search
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
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 ransack
During that time, Trump, with the help of Elon Musk’s legally dubious DOGE task force, has ransacked the federal civil service in search of any programs that hint at diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
—
Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Violent images of the mob storming and ransacking the Capitol linger in the American consciousness.
—Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 3 Jan. 2025
Black bears have also entered homes and even ransacked kitchens looking for food.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
In the days following her editorial, many white journalists called for her lynching and a white mob ransacked and destroyed her newspaper office.
—Amy Gais / Made By History, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Violent images of the mob storming and ransacking the Capitol linger in the American consciousness.
—Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 3 Jan. 2025
Black bears have also entered homes and even ransacked kitchens looking for food.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
In the days following her editorial, many white journalists called for her lynching and a white mob ransacked and destroyed her newspaper office.
—Amy Gais / Made By History, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransack
Verb
-
For decades, the terrorist group has plundered Gaza and sacrificed its people in pursuit of an unending messianic war to eliminate the Jewish state.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
18 Mar. 2025
-
From [nautical] mile 200, the Argentine Navy [ …] under the coordination of the Joint Maritime Command, stands firm, patrolling and watching and ensuring that no foreign ship crosses our exclusive economic zone to plunder what belongs to Argentines.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Police are searching for a man who shoved a 61-year-old straphanger off a Brooklyn subway platform — just minutes before a train was due at the station.—
Elizabeth Keogh,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Authorities in London are searching for an 11-year-old girl who went missing in the River Thames while on a day off from school.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Uh uh, method dressing is forever, at least for Timothée Chalamet—until the next role-of-a-lifetime comes along, or the parcels of Bob Dylan ephemera pillaged from the online auction houses stop coming through the young actor’s door that is.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2025
-
For centuries, the East India Company, a commercial and military organization, pillaged the riches of India to fund the British Empire and the company’s own expansion.—
Michael Knights,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
But if Romano’s fastball remains lost, the Phillies will have to find another right-hander who can fill an end-game role.—
Anthony Stitt,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Garcia Aquino, who was arrested on the charge two days after Hernandez's body was found, faces six years in prison if convicted.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Also sacked Thursday was Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, who led both the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command, and his deputy, Wendy Noble, who has reportedly been reassigned within the Pentagon.—
Colin Meyn,
The Hill,
4 Apr. 2025
-
He was sacked a whopping 68 times, with the next highest being C.J. Stroud with 52.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Along with human rights the wealth of Iran is being looted.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
-
The location of the site has not been announced due to concerns about looting.—
Francesca Aton,
ARTnews.com,
25 Mar. 2025
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
Verb
-
People were killed after soldiers and paramilitary forces raided the neighborhood of Raboteau after a demonstration in support of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Chit Thu has denied knowing about or benefiting from the scamming and trafficking operations in his territory, and said in a recent press conference that the BGF is raiding the compounds with the aim of eradicating them.—
Teele Rebane,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ransack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransack. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share