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
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Recent Examples of ransack
Authorities say burglars have hit multiple homes in rapid succession, ransacking properties and targeting valuables, while other incidents, including a commercial copper wire theft that led to a police chase, highlight what officials describe as increasingly bold and coordinated criminal activity.
—
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
The suspects then began ransacking the home.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Guzman had previously been to court for both allegedly trying to set her father’s house on fire and ransacking a priest’s home — on the same day.
—Selina Guevara, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026
On the drive back to her dormitory, Daisy sees that the florist’s shop has been ransacked.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
The suspects then began ransacking the home.
—Harry Harris, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Guzman had previously been to court for both allegedly trying to set her father’s house on fire and ransacking a priest’s home — on the same day.
—Selina Guevara, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026
On the drive back to her dormitory, Daisy sees that the florist’s shop has been ransacked.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransack
Verb
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But Klaasen didn’t hold back and shared an 80-run stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made 21, and then Salil Arora (30 not out) plundered three sixes and two fours as Hyderabad notched its fifth straight win.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2026
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Kyiv has long accused Russia of plundering these regions' resources.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Maton has been wrestling with his curveball grip all season and continues to search for consistency.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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To hear the full episode, subscribe through iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app (include the forward slashes when searching).—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Verb
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OpenAI has been pillaging Apple’s hardware engineering ranks for talent to work on competitors to Apple’s smart home and mobile devices, while Meta is revamping its own AI wearables.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
8 May 2026
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Then Joe Biden and his corrupt administration comes along and makes matters worse, allowing thousands of criminals to enter our country illegally, pillaging Americans while being pampered in luxury hotels on our dime.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Now, a new study suggests researchers may have found the first drug regimen capable of rapid and sustaining relief from suicidal thoughts across a broad group of patients.—
Ariana Eunjung Cha,
Washington Post,
19 May 2026
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Minutes later, police also responded to the 3800 block of Salerno Street where, inside, officers found the two suspects dead.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Verb
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United also won the FA Cup under Erik ten Hag in 2024 though he was sacked later that year and replaced by Ruben Amorim, who himself was dismissed in January 2026.—
Sam Joseph,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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Starmer sacked Mandelson last September after a trove of emails revealed the depth of his ties with Epstein.—
Elizabeth Piper,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Hospitals that haven’t been looted, burned or shuttered are dealing with limited budgets and the tightening grip of armed gangs.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
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After the supermarket burned down and his mom’s store was looted during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, his family relocated to Hawaii.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Verb
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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.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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Decades of despoiling water bodies have taken a terrible toll, filling water bodies with fetid algae that blocks sunlight and smothers the native seagrass beds that are a main food source for manatees.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Fish arcades are increasingly rare in Charlotte since the Supreme Court’s ruling shut many down, but police have raided locations operating illegally in recent years.—
Jeff A. Chamer
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
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With such a dominating presence in the first three seasons of the PWHL, the Frost brass expects their roster to be raided.—
Theodore Tollefson,
Twin Cities,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ransack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransack. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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