plunder

[ pluhn-der ]

verb (used with object)

1. to rob of goods or valuables by open force, as in war, hostile raids, brigandage, etc.:

   to plunder a town.

   Synonyms: devastate, sack, rape, ravage

2. to rob, despoil, or fleece:

   to plunder the public treasury.

3. to take wrongfully, as by pillage, robbery, or fraud:

   to plunder a piece of property.

verb (used without object)

1. to take plunder; pillage.

noun

1. plundering, pillage, or spoliation.

   Synonyms: rapine, robbery

2. that which is taken in plundering; loot.

   Synonyms: spoils, booty

3. anything taken by robbery, theft, or fraud.

plunder

/ ˈplʌndə /

verb

1. to steal (valuables, goods, sacred items, etc) from (a town, church, etc) by force, esp in time of war; loot
2. tr to rob or steal (choice or desirable things) from (a place)

   to plunder an orchard

noun

1. anything taken by plundering or theft; booty
2. the act of plundering; pillage

Derived Forms

• ˈplunderable, adjective
• ˈplunderer, noun
• ˈplunderous, adjective

Other Words From

• plunder·a·ble adjective
• plunder·er noun
• plunder·ing·ly adverb
• plunder·ous adjective
• un·plundered adjective
• un·plunder·ous adjective
• un·plunder·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of plunder¹

First recorded in 1620–30, plunder is from the Dutch word plunderen

Word History and Origins

Origin of plunder¹

C17: probably from Dutch plunderen (originally: to plunder household goods); compare Middle High German plunder bedding, household goods

Example Sentences

This Daily Dose dives into ancient mysteries that make Indiana Jones movies seem dull, examines current controversies around repatriations and gives you a peek at the world’s most sought-after plunder.

From Ozy

Surveying the plunders of rodents who nested with or near ancient humans can uncover truths about where and how our ancestors lived, as well as what environmental forces drove them.

From Popular-Science

The British, however, settled for the capitulation of Alexandria, and made off with a trove of ships and other plunder as they sailed back down the Potomac.

From Washington Post

That standard gothic story plot is about borders and border crossing, about the terrors of the other, about wealth and exploitation and plunder and shifting power dynamics.

From Vox

The manner of this acquisition would be a topic of discussion in biblical interpretation for centuries, for fear that it looks like plunder.

From No Straight News

It was up to the countries in which these acts of plunder had taken place to decide who rightfully owned the recovered works.

From The Daily Beast

Hulagu then gave his men licence to rape, kill and plunder with the caveat that Christians and Jews were to be spared.

From The Daily Beast

When they ran out of food, he would “go down to Babylon to plunder,” which means stealing from grocery stores.

From The Daily Beast

In contrast to other brigades, whose motto is “fight by day, plunder by night,” ISIS is a dedicated combat force.

From The Daily Beast

And it is repeated: “on the plunder they did not lay their hand.”

From The Daily Beast

But they soon fell out, for Murat had the audacity to try and make these patriots fight instead of merely seeking plunder.

From Project Gutenberg

And knowing that bunch as well as I do, I don't think they'll lift the plunder and quit the country till they can go together.

From Project Gutenberg

I stumbled over a fat trumpeter in the field, stript and plunder'd, with his skin full of bullets.

From Project Gutenberg

From this area, Dunmore and his friends made repeated plunder attacks along the coast of Virginia until summer.

From Project Gutenberg

Consequently, we could not ascribe these deaths to a desire for plunder on the part of some unknown person.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• pillage