plunder

IPA

Dictionary definition of plunder

To take goods or property by force, particularly during times of war or civil unrest, as well as by theft.
"The Vikings would sail across the ocean to plunder unsuspecting settlements."

Detailed meaning of plunder

It is similar to the word "pillage" but it can also be used in a less violent context. Plunder can also describe stealing or taking of resources or wealth in a non-violent manner, such as embezzlement, fraud, and other forms of financial crimes.

The term is often used to describe the taking of resources or wealth without the consent of the owners, often in large quantities. It implies a sense of greed and the desire to take something that doesn't belong to the plunderer. Plunder can also include the destruction of cultural heritage or important historical sites, as well as environmental destruction and ecological damage.

Like pillage, plunder is now considered a war crime under international law, as it causes unnecessary harm to civilians, and it creates a long-lasting negative impact on the stability and development of the area that has been plundered.

Example sentences of plunder

1. Armies plunder cities, leaving devastation and grief in their silent, haunting wake.
2. Pirates seek to plunder merchant vessels, hungry for treasure, power, and fame.
3. Invaders plunder wealth, tearing apart the soul of nations, casting shadows of doom.
4. Rebels plunder resources, igniting fires of resistance, yet birthing chaos and fear.
5. Empires often plunder lands, stripping them bare, silent echoes of power untamed.
6. To plunder is to steal, a dark dance of greed and power, echoing through ages.

History and etymology of plunder

The verb 'plunder' has an etymology deeply connected to the act of seizing goods or property through force or theft. It originates from the Middle Low German word 'plündern,' which means 'to plunder' or 'to rob.' This Middle Low German term was influenced by the Middle Dutch word 'plonderen,' which carried a similar meaning. 'Plunder' signifies the action of taking valuables or property, often by force, especially during times of war, civil unrest, or as a result of theft. Its etymology vividly captures the essence of forcibly taking possessions, evoking images of pillaging and looting in historical and contemporary contexts of conflict and criminality.

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Further usage examples of plunder

1. Villains with cruel eyes plunder treasures, awakening the silent spectres of war.
2. Raiders plunder homes, leaving behind echoes of despair, voices trembling in air.
3. Warlords’ cruel hands plunder riches, casting nations into an abyss of sorrow.
4. Despots and tyrants plunder art, stealing the soul and voice of a silenced nation.
5. Soldiers, eyes void of light, plunder villages, their cries woven into silent nights.
6. Pirates used to plunder coastal towns in the quest for gold and riches.
7. In the chaos of war, soldiers often plunder the homes of innocent civilians.
8. Bandits from the mountains would come to plunder the village once a year.
9. We should not plunder the Earth's resources without thinking of the future.
10. It was their strategy to plunder the enemy's supplies before attacking.
11. After the siege, they had a week to plunder the city.
12. Historians argue about the exact extent to which the Romans would plunder conquered territories.
13. The looters began to plunder the abandoned stores after the disaster.
14. In the old tales, dragons are known to plunder towns and hoard the gold.
15. Large corporations should not be allowed to plunder natural resources without considering the environmental impact.
16. The tomb raiders were ready to plunder the ancient site of its artifacts.
17. The rebels had a plan to plunder the government's weapons stores.
18. The conquering army had explicit orders not to plunder the holy sites.
19. If we continue to plunder the sea of its fish, we will be left with none.
20. The band of thieves were notorious for trying to plunder the king's treasury.
21. They believe that to plunder is to invite misfortune upon oneself.
22. Some wildlife smugglers plunder the rainforest for rare animals.
23. The Mongols would often plunder the cities they conquered.
24. For centuries, colonizers would plunder indigenous lands for valuable resources.