1
as in to plunder
to search through with the intent of committing robbery
it was clear that the thieves who had ransacked the museum were professionals—they bypassed most of the exhibits and went straight for the vaults
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to search
to look through (as a place) carefully or thoroughly in an effort to find or discover something
I've ransacked the whole house for that book you lent me and it's nowhere to be found
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ransack
The Rockefeller Wing features several dozen—a rooster with filigreed plumage, the famous mask depicting a queen mother, and plaques that once adorned the kingdom’s royal palace, which British troops ransacked and burned in 1897.
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Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
After a den of thieves ransacked a rural Northern California home so many times that the owner fled in fear, the property fell into even wilder hands: a group of bears, authorities said.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
Actor Brad Pitt’s Los Angeles home was ransacked and robbed in a late-night burglary.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 27 June 2025
Three suspects broke in via the front window, ransacked the location, and fled with miscellaneous property, police tell EW.
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
After a den of thieves ransacked a rural Northern California home so many times that the owner fled in fear, the property fell into even wilder hands: a group of bears, authorities said.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
Actor Brad Pitt’s Los Angeles home was ransacked and robbed in a late-night burglary.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 27 June 2025
Three suspects broke in via the front window, ransacked the location, and fled with miscellaneous property, police tell EW.
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransack
Verb
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Although the passengers managed to swim or be hauled on ropes to shore, much of the ship’s cargo—which included tea, brandy, nails, iron, and Wright’s paintings—was lost, washed out of the ship’s hold and either plundered by a passing privateer and people living nearby or sunk below the waves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 July 2025
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The British Museum has many artifacts in its collection which were plundered during imperial and colonial eras, and are contested.—
Lauren Frayer,
NPR,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Tom then searches for incriminating files which are, naturally, encrypted.—
Jordan Hoffman,
EW.com,
19 July 2025
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Around 24 rescuers and a drone team searched until 2 a.m. on Thursday, July 17.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
19 July 2025
Verb
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There is no serious evidence of starvation in Gaza, and what food scarcity does exist can be attributed to Hamas pillaging and hoarding aid.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2025
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Noni finds him in Crete, where Lion’s crew of pirates, assembled from fighters from around the world, are currently pillaging and enslaving a town.—
Kambole Campbell,
Variety,
9 June 2025
Verb
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Search crews found Phillips’ Jeep crushed into the mud, but have not recovered the fire chief’s body after more than two weeks of searching.—
Bayliss Wagner,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
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As Cincinnati city leaders consider new ways to enforce the curfew for youth who stay out too late, an Enquirer review of data found police across Hamilton County have been steadily filing fewer curfew violations over the past 25 years.—
David Ferrara,
The Enquirer,
25 July 2025
Verb
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This is the first time a studio has put tickets for sale this early in advance, but considering Nolan has a loyal army of fans large enough to sack a city, there certainly won’t be any shortage of uptake.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen backed former boss Christian Horner before he got sacked by the higher-ups at the racing team.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
Verb
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In fact, the entire original Potlatch Club, once a 1960s and ‘70s hideaway for elites and celebrities — including Greta Garbo, Cliff Robertson and Richard Widmark — had been swallowed up by nature, looted, lashed by hurricane winds and long forgotten.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
9 July 2025
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Stores in downtown Los Angeles were broken into and looted, and some of the downtown area was vandalized with anti-ICE and anti-Trump graffiti.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2025
Verb
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Decades of despoiling water bodies have taken a terrible toll, filling water bodies with fetid algae that blocks sunlight and smothers the native seagrass beds that are a main food source for manatees.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2025
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Gaddis was an obscure state employee who was fired from his job last summer after leaking details of a secret plot by the DeSantis administration to despoil nine pristine Florida state parks with golf courses, pickleball courts and resort-style lodges — all to benefit his wealthy friends.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
17 June 2025
Verb
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Federal agents raided four Colt Grill restaurant locations in Yavapai County and one in Foley, Alabama.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
19 July 2025
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Doyle and Dixon's homes have also been raided, WBRZ reported.—
Kerry Breen
July 16,
CBS News,
16 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ransack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransack. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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