1
as in to plunder
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 to search
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of ransack
Some soldiers, when sent to ransack an office that oversees elections, ate instant ramen at a convenience store instead.
—
E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
Militants broke through the border fence of the kibbutz and ransacked the neighborhood.
—Associated Press, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025
Animals had ransacked the boat shed; every last life jacket, fishing net and fuel tank had been pulled off the shelves and thrown on the floor.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025
This included access to emergency and critical medical care after gangs in December ransacked and burned down one of two hospitals the U.N. could use, leading to its indefinite closure.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransack
E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
Militants broke through the border fence of the kibbutz and ransacked the neighborhood.
—Associated Press, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025
Animals had ransacked the boat shed; every last life jacket, fishing net and fuel tank had been pulled off the shelves and thrown on the floor.
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025
This included access to emergency and critical medical care after gangs in December ransacked and burned down one of two hospitals the U.N. could use, leading to its indefinite closure.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransack
Verb
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These latter-day doges only see regulations as obstacles to righteous, plundering plutocrats.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2024
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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
Verb
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East Point, Prince Edward Island Less than ninety minutes east of the provincial capital of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island’s East Point is perfect for a morning spent searching for shorebirds on the Gulf of St. Lawrence.—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
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In the 50 years since Hilbert’s 10th problem was resolved, mathematicians have been searching for this cutoff.—
Joseph Howlett,
WIRED,
9 Mar. 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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Many focused on the birdies and course-tying score, but leave it up to golf stat guru Justin Ray to find another impressive stat to pile onto Thomas' performance.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
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The prior-generation Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive, the Long-Range All-Wheel Drive, and Performance All-Wheel Drive are only found on the inventory page now – where they are being heavily discounted in some cases.—
Brooke Crothers,
Forbes,
15 Mar. 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
-
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
Verb
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The world is a stakeholder, not a bystander, and cannot remain silent as Brazil despoils this indispensable carbon sink, irreplaceable oxygen source, and precious repository of plant and animal life.—
Stewart Patrick,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Oct. 2021
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Meanwhile, human activity has imperiled biodiversity as people despoil lands and waters, introduce invasive species, and harvest natural resources unsustainably.—
Stewart Patrick,
Foreign Affairs,
19 Oct. 2021
Verb
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Earlier this week, the U.N. humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) reported that armed men had raided at least two hospitals in North Kivu’s capital Goma, abducting dozens of patients.—
Paul Tilsley,
Fox News,
9 Mar. 2025
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Gregorios Bishara, priest of the Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation, was martyred this morning at the hands of the pro-HTS armed factions that raided the city of Baniyas.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ransack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransack. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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