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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White mobs also used the rumors to justify hunting Black citizens in the area for days, murdering men, women, and children and pillaging and burning their property.—
Christmaelle Vernet & Kathy Roberts Forde / Made by History,
TIME,
28 Feb. 2025
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After pillaging and gutting the U.S. government, the Western alliance and our relationship with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump is thinking of himself as a king and cogitating on a third term.—
Maureen Dowd,
The Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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New England’s quarterbacks were sacked 52 times over the course of it.—
Oliver Thomas,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
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The 38-year-old sacked Trevor Lawrence on his first defensive snap and tackled Travis Etienne Jr. in the backfield on the following play.—
C. Isaiah Smalls II,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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However, there is no mention of Hamas and Palestinian armed groups looting aid trucks.—
Rachel Wolf,
Fox News,
8 Mar. 2025
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Players are tasked with looting mansions of the rich and powerful, and exploring every rabbit hole before time runs out.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despoil. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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