1
as in plunders
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 searches
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
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Recent Examples of ransacks
The culminating episode, as the mob smashes and ransacks a hospital and terrorizes its patients, ultimately reveals a frail elderly man, standing naked and alone in an empty bathtub as the assailants approach.
—
John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
John Penner, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransacks
Verb
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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
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By delegitimizing the Islamic Republic as an occupying force—one that plunders national wealth to subsidize regional proxies—the opposition has effectively subverted the regime’s nationalist rhetoric.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Grand Pirate Show drops fans into the world of the Straw Hat Crew — Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji and Chopper — along with appearances by the Marines as the group searches for Pop Greens, or seeds with both instant growth and attack capabilities.—
Abbey White,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
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Tereza won’t stand for it and searches for a way to relocate elsewhere.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Johnson finds a disturbing manuscript raising questions about the author’s mental state.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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From glossy flagships and chaotic Don Quijote megastores (also known as Donki) to drugstores like Matsumoto Kiyoshi and Cocokara Fine, Japan is full of great beauty finds.—
Anita Bhagwandas,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Israel blames Hamas for the scale of the destruction in Gaza, saying the group hides behind civilians, uses civil infrastructure for military purposes, and loots humanitarian aid intended for ordinary Gazans.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Manning, back for what is probably his final season, is on the short list of best returning quarterbacks in the country and edge rusher Colin Simmons won the SEC sacks title with 12.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Jan. 2026
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Riley Moss sacks a scrambling Trevor Lawrence on third-and-4 for a 1-yard loss.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
21 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ransacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransacks. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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