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View synonyms for pillage

pillage

[ pil-ij ]

verb (used with object)

, pil·laged, pil·lag·ing.
  1. to strip ruthlessly of money or goods by open violence, as in war; plunder:

    The barbarians pillaged every conquered city.

    Synonyms: rape, despoil, spoil, sack, rob

  2. to take as booty.


verb (used without object)

, pil·laged, pil·lag·ing.
  1. to rob with open violence; take booty:

    Soldiers roamed the countryside, pillaging and killing.

noun

  1. the act of plundering, especially in war.

    Synonyms: spoliation, depredation, rapine

  2. booty or spoil.

    Synonyms: plunder

pillage

/ ˈpɪlɪdʒ /

verb

  1. to rob (a town, village, etc) of (booty or spoils), esp during a war
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. the act of pillaging
  2. something obtained by pillaging; booty
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈpillager, noun
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Other Words From

  • pillag·er noun
  • un·pillaged adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pillage1

1350–1400; Middle English pilage ( pill 3, -age ), modeled on Middle French pillage (derivative of piller to pillage, originally, to abuse, mistreat, tear, of uncertain origin)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pillage1

C14: via Old French from piller to despoil, probably from peille rag, from Latin pīleus felt cap
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Example Sentences

Will the Obama coalition now forever outvote and and pillage the makers of American wealth?

They will use their majority to pillage the makers and redistribute to the takers.

Those who carry out this pillage probably believe they can outrun their own destructiveness.

Instead, they were complicit in the plastic pillage that generated a fortune in fees from the member banks and their execs.

What reliance could repose upon a house, divided against itself—not safe from the extravagance and pillage of its own members?

Cuenca, Spain, taken by the French under Caulincourt, and given up to pillage.

So there was pillage and raiding across the Parrett, and at last Ina had sent messages to Gerent concerning it.

He gave up the town to pillage and rapine, allowing the doing of such deeds as have consigned his name to well-merited infamy.

Never forget our rule: 'A true vagabond, twenty-four hours after a pillage, must have nothing left but his skin and his knife.'

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