Synonyms

depredate

American

[dep-ri-deyt] / ˈdɛp rɪˌdeɪt /

verb (used with object)

depredated, depredating

to plunder or lay waste to; prey upon; pillage; ravage.

verb (used without object)

depredated, depredating

to plunder; pillage.

depredate British

/ -trɪ, dɪˈprɛdɪtərɪ, ˈdɛprɪˌdeɪtərɪ, ˈdɛprɪˌdeɪt /

verb

rare (tr) to plunder or destroy; pillage

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of depredate

1620–30; < Late Latin dēpraedātus plundered (past participle of depraedārī ), equivalent to Latin dē- de- + praed ( ārī ) to plunder ( see prey) + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Depredate, dep′re-dāt, v.t. to plunder or prey upon: to rob: to lay waste: to devour.—ns.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023