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
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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
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Recent Examples of ransack
Days of unrest convulsed Britain over the next week, as rioters clashed with the police, lit cars on fire, attacked mosques and ransacked businesses.
—
Megan Specia, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2025
Burrow's home in Anderson Township had been ransacked on that date, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office reported.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2025
Within the hour, rioters breached security at the Capitol, stormed inside and ransacked offices and sought out lawmakers.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2025
The cathedral was ransacked by rioting Huguenots and remodeled by Louis XIV, who found its Gothicism old fashioned.
—Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ransack 
Megan Specia, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2025
Burrow's home in Anderson Township had been ransacked on that date, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office reported.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2025
Within the hour, rioters breached security at the Capitol, stormed inside and ransacked offices and sought out lawmakers.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2025
The cathedral was ransacked by rioting Huguenots and remodeled by Louis XIV, who found its Gothicism old fashioned.
—Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ransack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransack
Verb
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Otto Frank requested that the spaces, plundered by the Nazis, remain vacant, their barrenness attesting to profound loss.—
Laurel Graeber,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
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In Charleston, Loyalists were desperate for skilled horsemen who could work as scouts and raiders, plundering Patriot homes for supplies.—
Kinsey Gidick,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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That authenticity is what Williamson has long been searching for in his work.—
Manuel Betancourt,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2025
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When law enforcement searched her home in January, authorities found gold coins, pieces of gold, a pink wallet with a $2,599 U.S. Treasury check made out to someone else, a 1953 Topps #1 Jackie Robinson MLB Brooklyn Dodgers baseball card and U.S. currency, according to the plea agreement.—
Julia Marnin,
Sacramento Bee,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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In addition, district officials have found that attendance has improved for both students and staff with a four-day week.—
Amy Wilde,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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After two and four months the researchers checked back in and found evidence of successful teeth growth in around 50% of the pigs.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Ex-head coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked and had been replaced by Graham Potter.—
Roshane Thomas,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
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He was sacked three times and threw two interceptions, finishing with a QB rating of 42.2. NFL pundits began to question Mahomes’ legacy in the immediate aftermath of the game.—
Ryan Gaydos,
Fox News,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The paintings are even more notable, since the tomb was likely looted, as indicated by missing inscriptions, human remains, and grave goods.—
Francesca Aton,
ARTnews.com,
13 Feb. 2025
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Last Friday evening three little boys looted the school rooms and stole marbles and jack knives.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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Medicare and Medicaid must not be raided to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
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Hu was a major fundraiser for the mayor’s 2021 campaign and has extensive ties to Winnie Greco, a senior adviser to Adams whose homes were also raided by the feds in February 2024.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near ransack
Cite this Entry
“Ransack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransack. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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