spoliate

[spoh-lee-eyt]

verb (used with or without object)

spoliated, spoliating 

1. to plunder, rob, or ruin.

spoliate

/ ˈspəʊlɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. a less common word for despoil

Other Word Forms

• spoliator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of spoliate¹

1715–25; < Latin spoliātus, past participle of spoliāre to spoil. See spoil, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Spoliate, spō′li-āt, v.t. to spoil, to plunder, to pillage.—v.i. to practise robbery.—ns.

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Astor did not debauch, spoliate, and incite slaughter because he took pleasure in doing them.

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But the other great whig families who had obtained this honour, and who had done something more for it than spoliate their church and betray their king, set up their backs against this claim of the Egremonts.

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"He intends to spoliate Austria as mercilessly as he formerly plundered Hamburg and the whole of Northern Germany," said the emperor, shrugging his shoulders.

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