ransack

[ran-sak] / ˈræn sæk /

VERB

turn inside out in search; ravage

Synonyms

STRONGEST

comb gut loot pillage plunder raid rob scour seize take away

STRONG

appropriate despoil explore ferret filch hunt investigate lift maraud overhaul peer pilfer pinch poach probe pry purloin rake rape ravish rifle rummage rustle sack scan scrutinize search seek sound spoil spy steal strip thieve

WEAK

go over with a fine-tooth comb go through lay waste leave no stone unturned look all over for look high and low look into make off with shake down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

give offer protect receive

STRONG

find ignore neglect order organize

WEAK

care for clean neaten tidy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As a housemate, he was catastrophic—overturning wastebaskets, ransacking drawers and drenching manuscripts.

From The Wall Street Journal

The elephants, after ransacking her house and eating her corn, urinated on what remained of her grain supply.

From The Wall Street Journal

The offices of several environmentalist groups were ransacked in the Charente-Maritime department.

From BBC

Indoors, rooms that had been neat and orderly five minutes earlier looked like they had been ransacked.

From Literature

One baby ransacked her belongings, another clung to her for months as a surrogate mother.

From The Wall Street Journal