plunder

7 definitions • 13 examples

to steal goods violently from a place, especially during a war:

After the president fled the country, the palace was plundered by soldiers.

Tragically, the graves were plundered and the contents scattered.

to steal or remove something precious from something, in a way that does not consider moral laws or is more severe than it needs to be:

Someone has been plundering funds from the company.

The future of our planet is in danger if we continue to plunder its resources as we do.

an occasion when goods are stolen from a place, especially violently or during a war, or these stolen goods:

Residents in the villages under attack have been unable to protect their homes from plunder.

The thieves hid their plunder in the woodshed.

a situation in which something is taken in a way that is not morally right or is too extreme:

We need to put a stop to the plunder of the rain forest.

to steal goods forcefully from a place, esp. during a war:

[ I ] After the battle the soldiers began looting and plundering.

[ T ] fig. He plundered (= took from) his ballet scores in writing his later operas.

to steal or take large amounts of money or goods from a place:

A lawsuit is being launched against him claiming that he and his associates have plundered more than $300m from the company over the years.

Years of military rule have plundered the nation's wealth.

the act of stealing or taking large amounts of money or goods from a place:

Small firms are often seen as ripe for plunder.

corporate/economic/financial plunder