brigandage
Armed rural plundering
Brigandage is robbery and plundering by armed bands, typically in remote or lawless regions.
The word evokes highway robbery, mountain bandits, and the breakdown of civil order: The countryside was plagued by brigandage.
It can describe any organized pattern of violent theft or raiding.
One who raids for loot
- freebooterMaritime plunderer seeking booty
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
- cutthroatViciously competitive or murderous
- footpadAnimal's plantar surface
ruffian · reiver · bushranger · road agent · outlaw · raider · plunderer · robber
Stolen valuables
- spoilsSeized war gains
- pillageViolent theft of goods
- bootyStolen valuables, especially treasure
- swagStolen goods, slang
depredation · spoliation · ransack · despoil · sack · rapine · foray · maraud
Fugitive from justice
- renegadeDeserter of a cause
- fugitiveOne fleeing authorities
- criminalPerson who breaks laws
- felonSerious crime perpetrator
gangster · villain · rogue · scoundrel · malefactor · desperado · wanted · bounty
Surprise strike from concealment
- incursionHostile territorial penetration
- foraySwift raid or attempt
- assaultViolent offensive act
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
attack · sortie · onslaught · irruption · guerrilla · sally · hit-and-run · surprise attack
Organized large-scale theft
- holdupTheft by threat
- larcenyUnlawful taking of goods
- theftUnlawful taking of property
- muggingRobbery with violence
highway robbery · armed robbery · stick-up · waylaying · daylight robbery · stagecoach · traveler · wayfarer
Killing and wounding
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- savageryExtreme, violent cruelty
- ferocityExtreme violent intensity
- rampageViolent, destructive outburst
ravage · marauding · terrorizing · murder · mayhem · assault · cruelty · ruthlessness
Pirate or pirate ship
- buccaneerCaribbean colonial-era pirate
- privateerAuthorized civilian warship
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
- pirateMaritime thief or bootlegger
sea rover · swashbuckler · boarding · prize · letter of marque · Barbary · galleon · plank
marauder
One who raids for loot
- freebooterMaritime plunderer seeking booty
- desperadoBold, reckless outlaw
- cutthroatViciously competitive or murderous
footpad · ruffian · reiver · bushranger · road agent · outlaw · raider · plunderer · robber · pillager
loot
Stolen valuables
swag · depredation · spoliation · ransack · despoil · sack · rapine · foray · maraud · reaving
outlaw
Fugitive from justice
felon · gangster · villain · rogue · scoundrel · malefactor · desperado · wanted · bounty · manhunt
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
skirmish · attack · sortie · onslaught · irruption · guerrilla · sally · hit-and-run · surprise attack · expedition
heist
Organized large-scale theft
mugging · highway robbery · armed robbery · stick-up · waylaying · daylight robbery · stagecoach · traveler · wayfarer · toll
bloodshed
Killing and wounding
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- savageryExtreme, violent cruelty
- ferocityExtreme violent intensity
rampage · ravage · marauding · terrorizing · murder · mayhem · assault · cruelty · ruthlessness · lawlessness
corsair
Pirate or pirate ship
- buccaneerCaribbean colonial-era pirate
- privateerAuthorized civilian warship
- filibusterDelaying tactic through speech
pirate · sea rover · swashbuckler · boarding · prize · letter of marque · Barbary · galleon · plank · cutlass
brigandagelaw and order
Governance through enforced rules
lawfulness · law enforcement · civil order · rule of law · peace
brigandageprotection
Guarding against harm
guardianship · safeguarding · policing · peacekeeping · constabulary
bandit, brigand, highwayman, brigands, brigandine, brigandry