as in to plunder
to search through with the intent of committing robbery
the burglars despoiled the art museum in search of treasures they thought they could sell to a fence
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Recent Examples of despoil
In stark contrast to the sensible environmental policies of his Republican predecessors, Watt’s policy enthusiasms included drilling, clear-cutting, despoiling public lands, and shredding environmental regulations.
—
Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 16 June 2023
This urge to despoil images of the unpopular goes a long way toward explaining why so many statues of Nero lost their heads, said Eric R. Varner, professor of classics and art history at Emory University.
—Graham Bowley, New York Times, 12 June 2023
Don’t believe the cries that the 5-4 decision will despoil America’s precious wetlands.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 25 May 2023
This remake injects some contemporary misfortune (humans despoil the water, we’re told).
—Wesley Morris, New York Times, 24 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for despoil
Liza Featherstone, The New Republic, 16 June 2023
This urge to despoil images of the unpopular goes a long way toward explaining why so many statues of Nero lost their heads, said Eric R. Varner, professor of classics and art history at Emory University.
—Graham Bowley, New York Times, 12 June 2023
Don’t believe the cries that the 5-4 decision will despoil America’s precious wetlands.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 25 May 2023
This remake injects some contemporary misfortune (humans despoil the water, we’re told).
—Wesley Morris, New York Times, 24 May 2023
See All Example Sentences for despoil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despoil
Verb
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After France fell to Germany, the Nazis requisitioned the museum as a sorting facility for art plundered from French Jewish dealers and citizens disenfranchised by the state.—
Nina Siegal,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
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Some Quebecois housed troops or joined pro-patriot militias; others joined the British in firing muskets and artillery at the men invading their homeland and plundering their homesteads.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 May 2025
Verb
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On Sunday, the editorial staff of Télé Pluriel in the Delmas 19 neighborhood, said heavily armed gang members had broken through the station’s main barrier sometime during the night and set fire to its premises while also pillaging their offices.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2025
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Uh uh, method dressing is forever, at least for Timothée Chalamet—until the next role-of-a-lifetime comes along, or the parcels of Bob Dylan ephemera pillaged from the online auction houses stop coming through the young actor’s door that is.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Paulo Fonseca was sacked in December, while the end of the season saw the club decide to end Sergio Conceicao’s tenure after an eighth-place finish.—
Adam Digby,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
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Former Porto head coach Conceicao was sacked after just five months in charge on Thursday following a disappointing eighth place finish in Serie A that saw the club miss out on European qualification for 2025-26.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Fifty priceless artifacts looted from Egypt and Pakistan — and trafficked through Manhattan by two notorious antiquities dealers — have been returned to their home countries, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has announced.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
2 June 2025
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Paris police chief Laurent Nunez told reporters that four stores were looted overnight.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despoil. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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