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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ransack
California’s suburbs were terrorized for years by a series of crimes that graduated from ransacking to rape and then murder.
—
Ian Berry, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
In 2011, thieves ransacked the Yangs’ house, hunting for their property deed.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
After a treacherous night in which Daryl had to remove a piece of metal from Carol’s shoulder and the boat was ransacked by equestrians in bull-horn masks, the twosome put the walking back in The Walking Dead.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 7 Sep. 2025
Protests intensified over the weekend, with rioters targeting the homes of lawmakers, ransacking and looting properties, and burning government buildings, according to media reports.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Ian Berry, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
In 2011, thieves ransacked the Yangs’ house, hunting for their property deed.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
After a treacherous night in which Daryl had to remove a piece of metal from Carol’s shoulder and the boat was ransacked by equestrians in bull-horn masks, the twosome put the walking back in The Walking Dead.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 7 Sep. 2025
Protests intensified over the weekend, with rioters targeting the homes of lawmakers, ransacking and looting properties, and burning government buildings, according to media reports.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ransack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ransack
Verb
-
Along with goods for trade and plundered wealth, concepts of the soul have traveled the networks of empire.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The French started to plunder Spanish ships on their voyages to Spain, and the English quickly joined in—their attacks shaped, in part, by the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century, which spawned anti-Catholic and anti-Spanish sentiment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With leaves still clinging to the trees, Arne Slot had overseen four straight defeats, prompting searching questions to be asked of the head coach, the club’s summer transfer strategy, senior players and everything in between.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
While deputies searched the shelter, a man fell through the ceiling and was immediately detained, Enriquez said.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If peaceable trading isn't your dream, consider the corsair life, pillaging other ships for their precious cargo.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
7 Oct. 2025
-
In this precarious situation, RSF forces have systematically pillaged towns and villages and laid siege to El Fasher, the last SAF stronghold in Darfur, for more than 500 days.—
Alex de Waal,
Foreign Affairs,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Police found a firearm in the vehicle, the release says.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The child was found by her mother three hours later, with internal vehicle temperatures having reached over 108 degrees.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Stroud has been susceptible to a pass rush, having been sacked 52 times last season and 15 so far this season — a pace that would have him on his back 42 1/2 times in 2025.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
-
And Jones did deserve to celebrate given Rodgers wasn’t sacked once despite the loss.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Stolen Louvre loot worth $102 million may be melted down.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Stolen Louvre loot worth $102 million may be melted down.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Their efforts have included agents rappelling from Black Hawk helicopters to raid an apartment building in the middle of the night and masked agents chasing people in the heart of Chicago's Mexican community.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Thieves raided the Apollo Gallery on the Louvre’s upper floor last weekend, which houses the French Crown Jewels.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ransack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ransack. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share