as in plundered
to search through with the intent of committing robbery
the bandits looted the archaeological dig before riding off into the night
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 looted
The 2025 Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act, or HEAR Act, expands on a 2016 law, signed by President Barack Obama, that permits victims and descendants of victims of the Holocaust to lay legal claim to works of art looted by the Nazis or sold to the Nazis under false pretenses.
—
Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
All the State Forensic Authority’s DNA analysis labs were looted and destroyed in the fighting.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
The only time the family has been looted was in 2025, when a bear came into the yard and upturned the beehives.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
The Jewish family had hidden in Lyon during World War II, only to learn that their apartment had been looted and rented in their absence.
—Shannon Fogg, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
One world-famous example of an item of value allegedly looted from India is the Koh-i-noor diamond.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Two people also reportedly broke into a storefront and looted merchandise during the event.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Dan Hicks, a professor of contemporary archaeology at the University of Oxford who studied the FoI responses, told the Guardian that these collections included items looted by British colonial officials and soldiers.
—News Desk, Artforum, 18 Mar. 2026
YggTorrent has since confirmed the hacker looted sensitive data, including user passwords.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
All the State Forensic Authority’s DNA analysis labs were looted and destroyed in the fighting.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
The only time the family has been looted was in 2025, when a bear came into the yard and upturned the beehives.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
The Jewish family had hidden in Lyon during World War II, only to learn that their apartment had been looted and rented in their absence.
—Shannon Fogg, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
One world-famous example of an item of value allegedly looted from India is the Koh-i-noor diamond.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Two people also reportedly broke into a storefront and looted merchandise during the event.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Dan Hicks, a professor of contemporary archaeology at the University of Oxford who studied the FoI responses, told the Guardian that these collections included items looted by British colonial officials and soldiers.
—News Desk, Artforum, 18 Mar. 2026
YggTorrent has since confirmed the hacker looted sensitive data, including user passwords.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for looted
Verb
-
Magyar has called for all of Orbán’s cronies in the government to resign and has committed to holding to account those who plundered Hungary.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The collapse of Prospect Medical, a for-profit hospital chain plundered by private equity and the company’s management, has generated a painful litany of woes.—
Peter Elkind,
ProPublica,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
North Texas — whose roster was pillaged in the portal and saw its top players leave for Oklahoma State alongside former head coach Eric Morris — have signed 42 transfers.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Jan. 2026
-
In a landscape of sequels and overly pillaged IP, the Stranger Things finale is finite and close-ended, the credits rolling once and for all.—
Yohana Desta,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
He was sacked at Fenerbahce after losing in the Champions League play-offs to, well, Benfica, who hired him a couple of weeks later.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was sacked 54 times in 2025, third most in the NFL, and finding offensive line depth was among the team’s priorities entering the draft.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The film subsequently triggered an investigation into the nature of the relationship between Michael and Arvizo, and, in November 2003, more than 40 police officers raided Neverland Ranch, per The Guardian.—
Nicole Briese,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Earlier this month, police raided the offices of Novaya Gazeta, the independent newspaper whose co-founder won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021.—
Nathan Hodge,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the 21st century, oil extraction has become a serious threat to Ecuadoran Amazonia, with large swaths of forest, often located in Indigenous territories, despoiled by the release of wastewater from the wells.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Investigators said the suspects ransacked the Scott Road house, but the homeowners said nothing was stolen.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The back door was smashed and the home ransacked.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Looted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/looted. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
