as in plundered
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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 despoiled In the 21st century, oil extraction has become a serious threat to Ecuadoran Amazonia, with large swaths of forest, often located in Indigenous territories, despoiled by the release of wastewater from the wells. —
Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despoiled
Verb
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Magyar has called for all of Orbán’s cronies in the government to resign and has committed to holding to account those who plundered Hungary.— Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
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The collapse of Prospect Medical, a for-profit hospital chain plundered by private equity and the company’s management, has generated a painful litany of woes.— Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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North Texas — whose roster was pillaged in the portal and saw its top players leave for Oklahoma State alongside former head coach Eric Morris — have signed 42 transfers.— Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
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In a landscape of sequels and overly pillaged IP, the Stranger Things finale is finite and close-ended, the credits rolling once and for all.— Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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All the State Forensic Authority’s DNA analysis labs were looted and destroyed in the fighting.— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
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The only time the family has been looted was in 2025, when a bear came into the yard and upturned the beehives.— Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Downing Street has blamed the Foreign Office for the failure, and a top civil servant has reportedly been sacked.— Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026
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Mandelson was sacked in September when the extent of his ties with Epstein was revealed in documents published in the United States.— Reuters, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despoiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/despoiled. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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