depredation

[ dep-ri-dey-shuhn ]

/ ˌdɛp rɪˈdeɪ ʃən /

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noun

the act of preying upon or plundering; robbery; ravage.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of depredation

1475–85; <Late Latin dēpraedātiōn- (stem of dēpraedātiō) a plundering, equivalent to dēpraedāt(us) (see depredate) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM depredation

dep·re·da·tion·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use depredation in a sentence

The depredations suffered by Southern blacks at the hands of white authorities had been known, at an abstract level, for decades.
When a Picture Is Too Powerful|Jeff Greenfield|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Is it the depredations of unfettered capitalism that make people the servants of the market rather than the other way around?
You Say You Want a Revolution?|Christopher Dickey|June 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Only grassroots opposition stopped, or at least limited, their depredations.
America’s New Oligarchs—Fwd.us and Silicon Valley’s Shady 1 Percenters|Joel Kotkin|May 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Surely it makes more sense to think that it was Southern poverty that made possible the Northern depredations.
David's Book Club: Who Ruined Southern Italy?|David Frum|July 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Yet in the end, it's hard quite to blame these Northern depredations for Southern poverty.
David's Book Club: Who Ruined Southern Italy?|David Frum|July 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
These savages committed great depredations on the frontiers, and refused all terms of peace.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
For the benefit of innocents who do not know what poaching is like, I will give an idea of this one dog's depredations.
The Chequers|James Runciman
A company of 2000 men were sent on shore from the French fleet to arrest their depredations, but were compelled to embark again.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Provost General Macy, of Massachusetts, established a guard to prevent depredations and to save the army from demoralization.
The Boys of '61|Charles Carleton Coffin.
When a lion has made his presence known, either by frequent depredations or by roarings, a hunting party is formed.
The Animal Story Book|Various

British Dictionary definitions for depredation

depredation

/ (ˌdɛprɪˈdeɪʃən) /

noun

the act or an instance of plundering; robbery; 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

depredation

Origin of depredation

OTHER WORDS FROM depredation

Words related to depredation

How to use depredation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for depredation