DEFINITIONS

ransack

[ ran-sak ]
/ ˈræn sæk /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ransack ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to search thoroughly or vigorously through (a house, receptacle, etc.): They ransacked the house for the missing letter.
to search through for plunder; pillage: The enemy ransacked the entire town.

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Words related to ransack

raid, seize, pillage, rob, plunder, scour, gut, loot, comb, spy, scan, poach, probe, sack, scrutinize, maraud, strip, pry, rape, overhaul

Words nearby ransack

ranking, ranking member, rankism, rankle, rankshift, ransack, ransom, ransome, ransomware, rant, rant and rave

Origin of ransack

1200–50; Middle English ransaken < Old Norse rannsaka to search, examine (for evidence of crime), equivalent to rann house + saka search (variant of soekja to seek)

OTHER WORDS FROM ransack

ran·sack·er, nounun·ran·sacked, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ransack

British Dictionary definitions for ransack

ransack
/ (ˈrænsæk) /

verb (tr)

to search through every part of (a house, box, etc); examine thoroughly
to plunder; pillage

Derived forms of ransack

ransacker, noun

Word Origin for ransack

C13: from Old Norse rann house + saka to search, seek
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