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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of ransack
Trump left office in 2021 a pariah after inciting a mob of supporters to ransack the U.S. Capitol at the end of an attempt to overturn his electoral defeat.
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Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 6 Nov. 2024
Thousands of people assembled at the foot of the main square in Damascus, where rebels ransacked Assad’s residence.
—Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024
Having launched their west coast tour the night before with a show at San Francisco’s Kilowatt, the band’s brief stop was interrupted by an onlooker alerting them that their tour van was being ransacked and robbed.
—Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 4 Dec. 2024
The facts of Bolsonaro's case remain unclear as the indictment is sealed, but authorities had been investigating whether the former president incited a riot in which his supporters ransacked the Supreme Court, the presidential palace and Congress in the capital of Brasilia on January 8, 2022.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ransack 
Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 6 Nov. 2024
Thousands of people assembled at the foot of the main square in Damascus, where rebels ransacked Assad’s residence.
—Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024
Having launched their west coast tour the night before with a show at San Francisco’s Kilowatt, the band’s brief stop was interrupted by an onlooker alerting them that their tour van was being ransacked and robbed.
—Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 4 Dec. 2024
The facts of Bolsonaro's case remain unclear as the indictment is sealed, but authorities had been investigating whether the former president incited a riot in which his supporters ransacked the Supreme Court, the presidential palace and Congress in the capital of Brasilia on January 8, 2022.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ransack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransack
Verb
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British and American soldiers plundered that area of New Jersey so heavily that all provisions became scarce.John Laycock, Baltimore Sun, 27 Dec. 2024
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Later, plundered relics like the Irish Crown Jewels and the Amber Room eluded investigators and would-be discoverers.Chris Wheatley, Longreads, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Any discoveries that result from the trip could help scientists target a future effort to the surface that would search for signs of life.Joe Spring, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024
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Five people lost their lives while searching for Forrest Fenn’s treasure before it was eventually found.Nicolas Vega, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Roman Empire continues to grow, pillaging every culture in its path and forcing the survivors to fight for their lives in the ring.Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 2 Dec. 2024
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More than 33,000 people fled Haiti’s capital in a span of less than two weeks as gangs pillaged homes and attacked state institutions, according to a report last month from the U.N.’s International Organization for Migration.Elliot Spagat, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Verb
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Then Jackson extended a play for several seconds inside the 10 to find Isaiah Likely for a score.Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 26 Dec. 2024
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Patients who took months of dance classes found their depression eased, a small study published recently in the Journal of Medical Internet Research says.Maureen Mackey, Fox News, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The pressure rate against Burrow is middle of the pack and he’s been sacked 37 times, tied for ninth most in the NFL.Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2024
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Mayfield was sacked four times to go along with the interception and White’s fumble.Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Many people may find their homes looted or new families living in them.Natasha Hall, Foreign Affairs, 9 Dec. 2024
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Swiss zoologists, botanists, engineers, priests and nuns from missionary societies, merchants and rentier businesspeople, warlords and mercenaries ventured out to participate in plunder and looting as adjuncts or sidekicks of the stronger world powers and financiers.Percy Zvomuya, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2024
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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Last Christmas, my Southern Living friends and co-workers decided to raid the magazine archives to plan the menu for our annual party.Josh Miller, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024
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On May 2, police officers raided and cleared the encampment, arresting more than 200 protesters.Orlando Mayorquín, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near ransack
Cite this Entry
“Ransack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransack. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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