plundering 1 of 2

plundering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of plunder
as in pillaging
to search through with the intent of committing robbery the escaped convict plundered the house in search of valuables

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of plundering
Noun
Some have traveled farther as part of colonial-era collections — as far as the British Museum — and been returned; a story unto itself about the plundering of the natural world in the age of empire, and institutions reckoning with their inheritance. Tom Page, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026 Living through the aftermath of Rome’s plundering in 410 by the Visigoths, Augustine keenly appreciated the fact that empires come and go. Brett Whalen, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2026 An intimate doc-feature take on renowned Panamanian anthropologist Reina Torres de Araúz (1932-82), who battled the plundering of artifacts from pre-1492 tombs, told from th POV of a soon who lost her mother too soon. John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026 ByteDance’s statement follows the Chinese tech giant receiving cease and desist letters from Disney and Paramount, calling for an immediate halt to IP plundering. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2026 It was revealed during that trial that Low's plundering of the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund exceeded $4 billion. Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Nov. 2025 Aron Solomon on how the Meta AI copyright decision made libraries sitting ducks for AI plundering. Literary Hub, 27 June 2025
Verb
New genetic data indicates that cats feeding off the abundant rodents plundering human food stores domesticated themselves for similar reasons around 10,000 years ago. Shoshi Parks, Popular Science, 10 June 2026 But Texas Tech isn't the only program from the Lone Star State whose commit list LSU is plundering. Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026 Later on, plundering Barbary pirates raided Mallorca, looting possessions, slaughtering inhabitants and capturing others for the slave trade. Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 27 May 2026 Kyiv has long accused Russia of plundering these regions' resources. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026 But the sea lies in a region of the Golden State where there are already numerous environmental concerns, and some residents worry that plundering for lithium could exacerbate the problem. Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 7 Apr. 2026 If there really was a class of unaccountable, libertine global élites plundering the world, then wasn’t Trump obviously a member? Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2026 Most Americans don’t want our nation to be an imperial aggressor threatening, conquering and plundering weaker nations. Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2026 An increasing number of bears had previously been observed spending more time on land during the summer, plundering birds’ nests in west Svalbard, and data had shown more adult females in east Svalbard spending more time in areas with bird colonies. Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plundering
Noun
  • At least four people have been killed as violence and looting spread across the country, Reuters reported.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • Last year, the NCMM received 113 Benin Bronzes from the Netherlands—the largest single return of Benin antiquities directly linked to the 1897 British looting, according to the commission.
    Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • But now, entry-level professionals are clinging to their childhood bedrooms and pillaging their family fridges as more are extending their stay than ever before.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 June 2026
  • Some commentators’ dark horses for the tournament, Norway qualified from Europe with a perfect record, pillaging goals at will, while mercilessly dispatching opponents.
    Jonathan Thompson, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • The Boulder County Sheriff's Office is investigating a robbery and assault that left a 73-year-old hiker unconscious and his wallet gone.
    Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Some of those ​arrested were undocumented migrants detained for violating ​immigration rules, while others were arrested for public violence, harboring ‌illegal immigrants and robbery.
    Reuters, NBC news, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Between matches, fans were able to relax with a somewhat less-marauding version of Haaland, as the 25-year-old put in an appearance on the late-night show FIFA World Cup on Fox After Hours with James Corden.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 26 June 2026
  • The showpiece against the hosts was the first genuinely one-sided final in the competition, with the Swedes unable to cope with Pele, Vava, Garrincha and the marauding Djalma Santos.
    Will Jeanes, New York Times, 20 June 2026
Noun
  • To the family’s lawyer, Markus Stötzel, the case is a typical example of Nazi plunder in need of immediate restoration.
    Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
  • The second — a fastball Horwitz hit about 100 mph for a double to right field — was the start of a Pirate plunder at Sutter Health Park.
    Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • To an outsider, the scene may spark a certain Schadenfreude, like an army of tiny barbarians sacking Rome.
    Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • One source close to the squad, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, told The Athletic that the AUF considered sacking Bielsa around this period, aware of the ongoing issues with the squad.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 28 June 2026
Noun
  • No amount of macho beatdowns in the UFC cage matches on the White House lawn will make anyone forget Epstein’s depredations.
    Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
  • The striped bass shark depredations have also been occurring off Chatham’s Monomoy Island — a hotspot for seals, which attract great white sharks.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • Want to stop raiding the fridge every night before bed?
    Dr. Deepika Chopra, Flow Space, 16 June 2026
  • While our dreams of raiding Tay Tay’s closet will likely never come true, that won’t stop of from borrowing her style and shopping Swift’s favorite designer brands.
    Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 16 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Plundering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plundering. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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