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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For decades, the terrorist group has plundered Gaza and sacrificed its people in pursuit of an unending messianic war to eliminate the Jewish state.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
18 Mar. 2025
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From [nautical] mile 200, the Argentine Navy [ …] under the coordination of the Joint Maritime Command, stands firm, patrolling and watching and ensuring that no foreign ship crosses our exclusive economic zone to plunder what belongs to Argentines.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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For centuries, the East India Company, a commercial and military organization, pillaged the riches of India to fund the British Empire and the company’s own expansion.—
Michael Knights,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Mar. 2025
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In December, gangs pillaged and set fire to the Bernard Mevs Hospital, one of the few critical-care facilities in the country.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Then, on Thursday, Kiir sacked the governor of Upper Nile State, who hailed from Machar's party.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2025
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And now 10 engineers charged with developing the AI have been sacked and the fate of the project has been thrown into doubt, staff told Forbes.—
Thomas Brewster,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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That childhood dream has been shattered, much like the Centre, looted and destroyed.—
Omnia Saed,
ARTnews.com,
17 Mar. 2025
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Then, one heir, niece Liesel Pritzker, who was excluded from that replacement deal, sued other family members in 2002, alleging that her trust funds were looted by family members, shortchanging her by $1 billion.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despoil. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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