Thesaurus results for PILLAGE

Q: How does the verb 'pillage' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pillage are despoil , devastate , ravage , sack , and waste . While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack . // settlements pillaged by Vikings

Q: Where would 'despoil' be a reasonable alternative to 'pillage'?

In some situations, the words despoil and pillage are roughly equivalent. However, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction. // the Nazis despoiled the art museums

Q: When is it sensible to use 'devastate' instead of 'pillage'?

The synonyms devastate and pillage are sometimes interchangeable, but devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area. // an earthquake devastated the city

Q: When might 'ravage' be a better fit than 'pillage'?

While the synonyms ravage and pillage are close in meaning, ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction. // a hurricane ravaged the coast

Q: When would 'sack' be a good substitute for 'pillage'?

The words sack and pillage can be used in similar contexts, but sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place. // barbarians sacked ancient Rome

Q: When could 'waste' be used to replace 'pillage'?

The words waste and pillage are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action. // years of drought had wasted the area

pillage 1 of 2

noun

ˈpi-lij

Definition of pillage

as in plunder

valuables stolen or taken by force the pirate ship was laden with the pillage of merchant ships from across the Spanish Main

Synonyms & Similar Words

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pillage

2 of 2

verb

as in to plunder

to search through with the intent of committing robbery soldiers pillaging the countryside for anything of value

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb pillage contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pillage are despoil, devastate, ravage, sack, and waste. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

Where would despoil be a reasonable alternative to pillage?

In some situations, the words despoil and pillage are roughly equivalent. However, despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

When is it sensible to use devastate instead of pillage?

The synonyms devastate and pillage are sometimes interchangeable, but devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

When might ravage be a better fit than pillage?

While the synonyms ravage and pillage are close in meaning, ravage implies violent often cumulative depredation and destruction.

a hurricane ravaged the coast

When would sack be a good substitute for pillage?

The words sack and pillage can be used in similar contexts, but sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

When could waste be used to replace pillage?

The words waste and pillage are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action.

years of drought had wasted the area

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 pillage

Noun

Byron is surveying rout and pillage, and the terrible ease with which the laws of civil society, such as respect for the elderly, are flung aside. — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 Otherwise, illicit actors will continue to profit from their pillage. — Justyna Gudzowska, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 2025

Verb

But now, entry-level professionals are clinging to their childhood bedrooms and pillaging their family fridges as more are extending their stay than ever before. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 June 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 See All Example Sentences for pillage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pillage

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

Verb

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
Though it had been looted by kids, most of the material was eventually recovered.

— Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026

Definition of loot

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

Verb

One looks to the story of the Haitian World Cup team, appearing in the tournament for the first time in fifty years, which has gathered expatriate players from the Haitian diaspora to play for that beautiful and utterly despoiled country, where many of them have never lived.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
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

Definition of despoil

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pillage

pillaged

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

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Synonyms of pillage

noun

verb

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