SACK Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of sack are despoil , devastate , pillage , ravage , and waste . While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place. // barbarians sacked ancient Rome

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

The synonyms despoil and sack are sometimes interchangeable, but despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction. // the Nazis despoiled the art museums

Q: When could 'devastate' be used to replace 'sack'?

The words devastate and sack can be used in similar contexts, but devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area. // an earthquake devastated the city

Q: How are the words 'pillage' and 'sack' related?

Pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack . // settlements pillaged by Vikings

Q: When can 'ravage' be used instead of 'sack'?

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

Q: When might 'waste' be a better fit than 'sack'?

While in some cases nearly identical to sack , waste may imply producing the same result by a slow process rather than sudden and violent action. // years of drought had wasted the area

sack 1 of 3

noun

ˈsak

Definition of sack

as in bag

a container made of a flexible material (as paper or plastic) asked the bagger to put all the loaves of bread in the same sack

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in bed

a place set aside for sleeping I think I'm ready to hit the sack

Synonyms & Similar Words

sack

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to dismiss

to let go from office, service, or employment he was sacked for showing up late once too often

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sack

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to plunder

to search through with the intent of committing robbery thieves sacked the house in search of the diamond necklace

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb sack contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sack are despoil, devastate, pillage, ravage, and waste. While all these words mean "to lay waste by plundering or destroying," sack implies carrying off all valuable possessions from a place.

barbarians sacked ancient Rome

Where would despoil be a reasonable alternative to sack?

The synonyms despoil and sack are sometimes interchangeable, but despoil applies to looting or robbing without suggesting accompanying destruction.

the Nazis despoiled the art museums

When could devastate be used to replace sack?

The words devastate and sack can be used in similar contexts, but devastate implies the complete ruin and desolation of a wide area.

an earthquake devastated the city

How are the words pillage and sack related?

Pillage implies ruthless plundering at will but without the completeness suggested by sack.

settlements pillaged by Vikings

When can ravage be used instead of sack?

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

a hurricane ravaged the coast

When might waste be a better fit than sack?

While in some cases nearly identical to sack, 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 sack

Noun

The Horned Frogs rank last in sacks allowed, while West Virginia ranks fourth in the Big 12 in sacks. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026 Lonon played 10 snaps for the Bulldogs, finishing with a sack in the loss. — Connor Riley, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Verb

The Jets later got to the Dolphins 1, but couldn't punch it in on runs by Andrew Beck and Allen and settled for a 33-yard field goal when Smith was sacked on third down. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 Maiava was sacked again on USC’s next drive, once again pushing the Trojans out of field-goal range. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sack

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sack

Noun

Police said that witnesses spotted two people entering a residence and leaving with multiple bags and then fled in a vehicle.

— Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
They’re all wrapped up in a decorative box with two bags of each flavor per day, and the set also comes in a vegan option with flavors like butterscotch, cherry pie, chocolate orange, and even gingerbread.

— Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of bag

Noun

Rooms There are 40 tents across 7 different accommodation types at Under Canvas Moab, all with (true to its name) canvas walls, comfy beds, and views of the surrounding landscape.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Oct. 2026
In 2024, the university bought the 260-bed West Hills Hospital and Medical Center in the San Fernando Valley from HCA Healthcare.

— Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of bed

Verb

Ben-Gvir dismisses concerns that such policies would cement Israel’s status as a pariah state.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Lower courts had dismissed the case because Asian American students were not underrepresented at the magnet schools compared with the pool of students that applied.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of dismiss

Verb

Social media posts and merchant reports said luxury and beauty stores, including Sephora, Celine, Burberry and Louis Vuitton, were plundered.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
As noted recently by Deadline, other Chinese AI models continue to plunder IP, including MiniMax H3, which generated videos that violated studio brand safety standards 55% of the time when an image was used in a prompt.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of plunder

Noun

Although Irwin has not yet left the pouch completely, he can still be seen exploring outside near his mom, the KC Zoo said.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nicotine pouches contain nicotine, flavorings and other ingredients, with nicotine absorbed through the gums and lining of the mouth.

— Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of pouch

Verb

The full court reheard the case in January 2024, and in October 2024 ruled 9-8 that the NLRB had no power to order the tweet removed, citing the First Amendment.

— Heather Occhino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, according to a USFWS spokesperson, around 30 million lbs of invasive carp are removed from Midwestern waters each year.

— Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of remove

Verb

Rescue operations were complicated, with police firing tear gas at people who had begun looting neighboring shops, as officers sought to clear the area and provide access to emergency response teams.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
The Paris march began peacefully, a week after widespread rioting and looting during protests across the country.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of loot

Browse Nearby Words

sacerdotal

sack

sacked

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Sack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sack. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sack

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Synonyms of sack

noun

verb (1)

verb (2)

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Phrases Containing sack

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