as in looting
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as in pillaging
to search through with the intent of committing robbery
the escaped convict plundered the house in search of valuables
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plundering
Tom Page, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Living through the aftermath of Rome’s plundering in 410 by the Visigoths, Augustine keenly appreciated the fact that empires come and go.
—Brett Whalen, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2026
An intimate doc-feature take on renowned Panamanian anthropologist Reina Torres de Araúz (1932-82), who battled the plundering of artifacts from pre-1492 tombs, told from th POV of a soon who lost her mother too soon.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
ByteDance’s statement follows the Chinese tech giant receiving cease and desist letters from Disney and Paramount, calling for an immediate halt to IP plundering.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
It was revealed during that trial that Low's plundering of the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund exceeded $4 billion.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Nov. 2025
Aron Solomon on how the Meta AI copyright decision made libraries sitting ducks for AI plundering.
—Literary Hub, 27 June 2025
Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026
But the sea lies in a region of the Golden State where there are already numerous environmental concerns, and some residents worry that plundering for lithium could exacerbate the problem.
—Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 7 Apr. 2026
So, the Board of Supervisors, through the County Executive Officer, has pirated the Treasurer’s office and is now plundering it.
—John Moorlach, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
If there really was a class of unaccountable, libertine global élites plundering the world, then wasn’t Trump obviously a member?
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Most Americans don’t want our nation to be an imperial aggressor threatening, conquering and plundering weaker nations.
—Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2026
An increasing number of bears had previously been observed spending more time on land during the summer, plundering birds’ nests in west Svalbard, and data had shown more adult females in east Svalbard spending more time in areas with bird colonies.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Bainbridge wasn’t shy about plundering her personal life for material.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Trump is not keeping that a secret but is being quite open about plundering it all.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
Noun
Some have traveled farther as part of colonial-era collections — as far as the British Museum — and been returned; a story unto itself about the plundering of the natural world in the age of empire, and institutions reckoning with their inheritance.
—Tom Page, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
Living through the aftermath of Rome’s plundering in 410 by the Visigoths, Augustine keenly appreciated the fact that empires come and go.
—Brett Whalen, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2026
An intimate doc-feature take on renowned Panamanian anthropologist Reina Torres de Araúz (1932-82), who battled the plundering of artifacts from pre-1492 tombs, told from th POV of a soon who lost her mother too soon.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
ByteDance’s statement follows the Chinese tech giant receiving cease and desist letters from Disney and Paramount, calling for an immediate halt to IP plundering.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026
It was revealed during that trial that Low's plundering of the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund exceeded $4 billion.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Nov. 2025
Aron Solomon on how the Meta AI copyright decision made libraries sitting ducks for AI plundering.
—Literary Hub, 27 June 2025
Verb
Kyiv has long accused Russia of plundering these regions' resources.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026
But the sea lies in a region of the Golden State where there are already numerous environmental concerns, and some residents worry that plundering for lithium could exacerbate the problem.
—Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 7 Apr. 2026
So, the Board of Supervisors, through the County Executive Officer, has pirated the Treasurer’s office and is now plundering it.
—John Moorlach, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
If there really was a class of unaccountable, libertine global élites plundering the world, then wasn’t Trump obviously a member?
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026
Most Americans don’t want our nation to be an imperial aggressor threatening, conquering and plundering weaker nations.
—Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2026
An increasing number of bears had previously been observed spending more time on land during the summer, plundering birds’ nests in west Svalbard, and data had shown more adult females in east Svalbard spending more time in areas with bird colonies.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Bainbridge wasn’t shy about plundering her personal life for material.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Trump is not keeping that a secret but is being quite open about plundering it all.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plundering
Noun
-
The looting report in Haaretz follows several other misconduct complaints against Israeli soldiers in Lebanon.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Spiegelman uses the term micro-looting, dressing up petty theft in political pretensions.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Then Joe Biden and his corrupt administration comes along and makes matters worse, allowing thousands of criminals to enter our country illegally, pillaging Americans while being pampered in luxury hotels on our dime.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Certainly, its portrait of a futuristic society dominated by raping, pillaging youth gangs speaking a bizarre Russian-English hybrid slang struck a few different nerves — as did its tale of one teenage sociopath’s questionable reprogramming back into society after a stint in prison.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The defendants have each been indicted on conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The pair, both dressed in orange jail attire, admitted to second-degree murder and a slew of other offenses, including robbery, kidnapping and burglary.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The war ends, and marauding Russians confiscate the family estate.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Quick attacks down the flanks Parkinson’s preference for a three-man defence means his team often look wide to find marauding wing-backs high up the pitch.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If Chelsea thought their recent run of losses had been painful enough, Sunday could present a new nadir if Leeds United highlight how sacking Rosenior won’t fix anything by itself.—
Graham Ruthven,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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John Franklin-Myers, who loved talking, sacking and eating Uncrustables, left as a free agent to the Titans.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Many Indians and students of colonialism see it as a symbol of the British Empire and the domination and plunder of imperialism.—
Emma Caughlan,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Critics contend the industry plunders distressed companies, leading to downsizing and cost-cutting that hurts local communities, though other research has pushed back on that reputation.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fashion lovers will likely find satisfaction raiding the closets of OG characters Charlotte York-Goldenblatt (Kristin Davis) and Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon), along with newcomers Seema Patel (Sarita Choudhury) and Lisa Todd Wexley (Nicole Ari Parker).—
Kailyn Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Fuqua even shot scenes of the FBI raiding Neverland.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Federal prosecutors charged Castillo with depredation of government property.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Colorado’s wolf depredation compensation program is the broadest in the country, Sedgeley said.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plundering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plundering. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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