PLUNDER Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

plunder 1 of 2

noun

Definition of plunder next

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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as in possession

chiefly dialect transportable items that one owns with all of our plunder in the pickup, we headed for the state that bills itself as the Last Frontier

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

plunder

2 of 2

verb

ˈplən-dər

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

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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

Unfortunately, the end product’s indistinct mechanics for its cast—Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Killer Shark, and Deadshot all reduced to interchangeable shooter drones—and stagnant, grind-heavy missions intended to be played on repeat for incrementally better loot resulted in a flop.

Matt Kamen, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2024
The Chiefs' official X account shared a photo of the luxurious loot on Wednesday, December 18.

Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024