as in to plunder
to search through with the intent of committing robbery
the burglars despoiled the art museum in search of treasures they thought they could sell to a fence
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despoil
And on both flanks, the Trust set aside 33 low-lying acres that still contain the potential to despoil the whole place.
—
Developing Governors Island, Curbed, 11 May 2023
Growth in Africa must be clean, both in terms of generating energy and not despoiling the continent’s landscape and natural resources.
—Jack A. Goldstone, Foreign Affairs, 18 May 2023
In stark contrast to the sensible environmental policies of his Republican predecessors, Watt’s policy enthusiasms included drilling, clear-cutting, despoiling public lands, and shredding environmental regulations.
—Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 16 June 2023
This urge to despoil images of the unpopular goes a long way toward explaining why so many statues of Nero lost their heads, said Eric R. Varner, professor of classics and art history at Emory University.
—Graham Bowley, New York Times, 12 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for despoil
Developing Governors Island, Curbed, 11 May 2023
Growth in Africa must be clean, both in terms of generating energy and not despoiling the continent’s landscape and natural resources.
—Jack A. Goldstone, Foreign Affairs, 18 May 2023
In stark contrast to the sensible environmental policies of his Republican predecessors, Watt’s policy enthusiasms included drilling, clear-cutting, despoiling public lands, and shredding environmental regulations.
—Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 16 June 2023
This urge to despoil images of the unpopular goes a long way toward explaining why so many statues of Nero lost their heads, said Eric R. Varner, professor of classics and art history at Emory University.
—Graham Bowley, New York Times, 12 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for despoil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despoil
Verb
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In Musk’s telling, Altman illegally partnered with Microsoft to establish a web of illicit affiliates and plunder its nonprofit arm of assets and staff in violation of their deal.—
Winston Cho,
The Hollywood Reporter,
14 Feb. 2025
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Loggers are plundering giant sequoias in Yosemite and poachers are decimating bison herds in Yellowstone.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside Online,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Capitals were pillaged, towns were razed, and friendships were irreparably fractured.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
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Reports and social media videos showed the region's factories pillaged and prisons emptied while electricity remained on and communication lines open in most places.—
JUSTIN KABUMBA,
arkansasonline.com,
16 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 announcement also acknowledged the items had been looted by British soldiers in 1897 from the Kingdom of Benin, sold, and eventually ended up in the Dutch State Collection.—
Karen K. Ho,
ARTnews.com,
21 Feb. 2025
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An escaped convict teams up with his Italian buddy and an army deserter to plan a spectacular bank robbery, looting a U.S. military base for the necessary firepower.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
13 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despoil. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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