as in plundered
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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Recent Examples of despoiled
In the 21st century, oil extraction has become a serious threat to Ecuadoran Amazonia, with large swaths of forest, often located in Indigenous territories, despoiled by the release of wastewater from the wells.
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Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despoiled
Verb
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Monster bamboo, bougainvillea, and banana plants crashed in from the roadside; a tin roof sagged under the weight of a gaggle of marabou storks; baboons plundered trash cans at a highway intersection.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
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The Scandinavian Vikings were a seafaring people who plundered both north and west Europe for centuries — a pretty tough group.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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North Texas — whose roster was pillaged in the portal and saw its top players leave for Oklahoma State alongside former head coach Eric Morris — have signed 42 transfers.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Jan. 2026
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In a landscape of sequels and overly pillaged IP, the Stranger Things finale is finite and close-ended, the credits rolling once and for all.—
Yohana Desta,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The item belongs to a rare collection of French crown jewels still held by the nation, after most were looted during the French Revolution beginning in 1789.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Law enforcement officers were injured, autonomous vehicles were set on fire and stores were looted.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham’s manager at the start of that season, was sacked on November 19, with the team 14th in the league — although the fateful conversation with then-chairman Daniel Levy was conducted off-camera.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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Maye was sacked 21 times in the playoffs — the most ever for a QB in a single postseason.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despoiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despoiled. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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