Thesaurus results for LOOT

Q: How does the noun 'loot' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of loot are booty , plunder , prize , spoils , and spoil . While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe. // picked through the ruins for loot

Q: When could 'booty' be used to replace 'loot'?

While in some cases nearly identical to loot , booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates. // thieves dividing up their booty

Q: When might 'plunder' be a better fit than 'loot'?

In some situations, the words plunder and loot are roughly equivalent. However, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling. // a bootlegger's plunder

Q: In what contexts can 'prize' take the place of 'loot'?

Although the words prize and loot have much in common, prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy. // the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

Q: How do 'spoil' and 'spoils' relate to one another, in the sense of 'loot'?

Spoil , more commonly spoils , applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest. // the spoils of political victory

loot 1 of 2

noun

ˈlüt

Definition of loot

as in plunder

valuables stolen or taken by force the burglar was caught when he foolishly stopped to examine the loot from the robbery

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in cash

something (as pieces of stamped metal or printed paper) customarily and legally used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or a means of payment a top-ranked golfer earning plenty of loot

Synonyms & Similar Words

loot

2 of 2

verb

as in to plunder

to search through with the intent of committing robbery the bandits looted the archaeological dig before riding off into the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun loot differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of loot are booty, plunder, prize, spoils, and spoil. While all these words mean "something taken from another by force or craft," loot applies especially to what is taken from victims of a catastrophe.

picked through the ruins for loot

When could booty be used to replace loot?

While in some cases nearly identical to loot, booty implies plunder to be shared among confederates.

thieves dividing up their booty

When might plunder be a better fit than loot?

In some situations, the words plunder and loot are roughly equivalent. However, plunder applies to what is taken not only in war but in robbery, banditry, grafting, or swindling.

a bootlegger's plunder

In what contexts can prize take the place of loot?

Although the words prize and loot have much in common, prize applies to spoils captured on the high seas or territorial waters of the enemy.

the wartime right of seizing prizes at sea

How do spoil and spoils relate to one another, in the sense of loot?

Spoil, more commonly spoils, applies to what belongs by right or custom to the victor in war or political contest.

the spoils of political victory

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 loot

Noun

Yet tens of millions of dollars in loot were still making their way into the world’s most illustrious museums. — Ariel Sabar, The Atlantic, 13 May 2026 Toek Tik did not know exactly where his loot ended up after leaving Cambodia. — Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 June 2026

Verb

In Catia La Mar, a community adjacent to the country's main airport, throngs of people began to loot basic goods like toilet paper and food from stores. — Arkansas Online, 27 June 2026 For his part, Klaus Kallmann also claims that his father, Hartmut Kallmann, always said that their family’s art collection was fully intact when the Nazis came to power and that the collection subsequently looted. — News Desk, Artforum, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for loot

Recent Examples of Synonyms for loot

Noun

To the family’s lawyer, Markus Stötzel, the case is a typical example of Nazi plunder in need of immediate restoration.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
The second — a fastball Horwitz hit about 100 mph for a double to right field — was the start of a Pirate plunder at Sutter Health Park.

— Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 18 June 2026

Definition of plunder

Noun

If no one wins the jackpot, the cash prize will keep ticking up.

— Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 7 July 2026
There’s enough cash on hand for Rhaenyra to administer the Seven Kingdoms for a fortnight, and no one remaining from the old regime — not Alicent, not Orwyle — knows where Lannister hid the rest of the ingots.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026

Definition of cash

Verb

The Hightowers, Rhaenyra soon learns, have sacked the town of Tumbleton, a thriving city on the border of the Crownlands and the Reach.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
That came in the spring of 2025, about 11 months after his dad had been sacked as coach, when Pochettino, the new manager, gave the younger Berhalter his first national team call-up.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026

Definition of sack

Noun

The weekly markets turn to late-season treasure—figs, truffles, chestnuts, cheeses and olives.

— Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Enola also realizes that Tewkesbury's family must have hidden the gold in Maltese cliff, because Tewkesbury previously told her stories about a treasure hidden there.

— Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026

Definition of treasure

Noun

For the superstar whose private jet is tracked, whose every appearance is documented and whose movements become global headlines within minutes, an arena transformed into a private world may be the closest thing to privacy that money can buy.

— Bryan West, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Multiple network insiders said Tuesday afternoon that no clear front-runner has emerged for James, but that money will not drive the decision.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

Definition of money

Verb

Unfortunately, a group of eastern kings pillage Sodom and Gomorrah and take Lot captive along with others.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
Triarchy forces that escaped the Battle of the Gullet have been pillaging the mainland, and some come across Aegon’s captors, cutting short a bit of squabbling between the two.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Definition of pillage

Noun

That’s not to mention an upcoming summer of local and national festivities that promises fireworks, parades, bands, speeches, prizes, and commemorative everything, from postage stamps and coins to musical compositions.

— Brenda Wineapple, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026
Now, the new Heritage Coin collection takes the original coin watch to all new heights – but exclusive ones.

— Roberta Naas, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of coin

Verb

Alaska also demonstrates that the fear that dividends automatically create dependency or invite politicians to raid the principal is overblown.

— James Broughel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Added to this, Whitehall has historically faced criticism for treating the armed forces as a budget piggy bank to be raided whenever public funds run short.

— David Szondy July 01, New Atlas, 1 July 2026

Definition of raid

Browse Nearby Words

loosing

loot

looted

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“Loot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loot. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of loot

noun

verb

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