plundering
Taking by force
Plundering is the act of stealing goods by force, especially during war, riots, or other disorder.
Soldiers plunder conquered cities; looters plunder stores during unrest.
The word emphasizes taking valuables systematically rather than grabbing a single item: The plundering of the museum left it stripped bare.
Figuratively, plundering can describe any aggressive extraction of resources: the plundering of natural habitats.
Medieval Nordic raider
- incursionHostile territorial penetration
- sackingDismissal from employment
- foraySwift raid or attempt
- maraudersRoving plunderers
barbarians · assault · onslaught · warband · raiding party · coastal raid · reaving · border raid
Valued wealth or keepsake
- spoilsSeized war gains
- bootyStolen valuables, especially treasure
- goldElement seventy-nine
- silverLustrous white precious metal
jewels · riches · hoard · valuables · artifacts · relics · coins · bullion
Theft through intimidation
- burglaryIllegal entry to commit crime
- larcenyUnlawful taking of goods
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- pilferingMinor, sneaky theft
stealing · thievery · heist · misappropriation · peculation · pilferage · swindling · filching
Domain under unified control
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- subjugationForcing into submission
- annexationAbsorbing territory into jurisdiction
- imperialismExtending dominion over others
invasion · occupation · domination · expansion · vanquishing · resource exploitation · tribute · conquest
Caribbean colonial-era pirate
- corsairPirate or pirate ship
- privateerAuthorized civilian warship
- marauderOne who raids for loot
- BlackbeardFamous Caribbean buccaneer
Jolly Roger · galleon · Spanish Main · Caribbean · sea rover · brigantine · boarding · doubloon
Excessive desire for riches
- rapacityAggressive, seizing greed
- covetousnessExcessive desire for possessions
- acquisitivenessDesire to gather wealth
- voracityIntense, consuming hunger
insatiability · exploitation · extortion · profiteering · hoarding · rapaciousness · predatory · mercenary
viking
Medieval Nordic raider
marauders · barbarians · assault · onslaught · warband · raiding party · coastal raid · reaving · border raid · smash and grab
treasure
Valued wealth or keepsake
silver · jewels · riches · hoard · valuables · artifacts · relics · coins · bullion · gemstones
robbery
Theft through intimidation
- burglaryIllegal entry to commit crime
- larcenyUnlawful taking of goods
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
pilfering · stealing · thievery · heist · misappropriation · peculation · pilferage · swindling · filching · looting
empire
Domain under unified control
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- subjugationForcing into submission
- annexationAbsorbing territory into jurisdiction
imperialism · invasion · occupation · domination · expansion · vanquishing · resource exploitation · tribute · conquest · war reparations
buccaneer
Caribbean colonial-era pirate
Blackbeard · Jolly Roger · galleon · Spanish Main · Caribbean · sea rover · brigantine · boarding · doubloon · swashbuckler
avarice
Excessive desire for riches
- rapacityAggressive, seizing greed
- covetousnessExcessive desire for possessions
- acquisitivenessDesire to gather wealth
voracity · insatiability · exploitation · extortion · profiteering · hoarding · rapaciousness · predatory · mercenary · opportunism
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- Piratespirate, buccaneer, corsair, corsairs, privateers
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- Caribbean piratespirates, buccaneers, Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, privateers
- plunderlooting, loot, booty, pillaging, spoils
- Nordic HistoryViking Age, Viking raids, longships, runestones, Great Northern War
plunderingpurchasing
Acquiring through payment
buying · earning · paying · trading · compensating
plunderinggiving
Transferring to another
donating · returning · bestowing · restoring · restitution
plunderingprotecting
Keeping from harm
safeguarding · preserving · defending · conserving · guarding