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Despoil: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿดโ€โ˜ ๏ธ
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despoil

 

[ dษชหˆspษ”ษชl ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

theft act

To despoil means to plunder or rob, especially of valuables or possessions. It often conveys a sense of violence or aggression against someone or something, indicating a thorough and forcible act of taking away.

Synonyms

loot, pillaging, plunder, raze, rob

Examples of usage

  • The soldiers despoiled the village during their campaign.
  • Pirates would despoil ships at sea, leaving no treasure behind.
  • The invading army despoiled the lands they conquered.
  • Environmentalists argue that corporations despoil natural habitats for profit.
Context #2 | Verb

destroy beauty

Despoil can also mean to spoil or damage the beauty or integrity of something, often associated with environmental or aesthetic degradation. This usage emphasizes the loss of charm or purity.

Synonyms

defile, desecrate, mar, ruin, taint

Examples of usage

  • The industrial waste despoiled the pristine river.
  • Urban sprawl has despoiled much of the natural landscape.
  • Their actions despoiled what was once a vibrant ecosystem.
  • Pollution can despoil the air quality in major cities.

Translations

Translations of the word "despoil" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น saquear

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฒเฅ‚เคŸเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช plรผndern

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ merampok

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะณั€ะฐะฑัƒะฒะฐั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ zล‚upiฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็•ฅๅฅชใ™ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท piller

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ saquear

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท yaฤŸmalamak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์•ฝํƒˆํ•˜๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู†ู‡ุจ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ vydrancovat

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ vydrancovaลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆŽ ๅคบ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ opustoลกiti

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ rรฆndi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัˆะฐะฟา›ั‹ะฝัˆั‹ะปั‹า› ะถะฐัะฐัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒแƒขแƒแƒชแƒ”แƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ qษ™nimษ™t almaq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ saquear

Etymology

The word 'despoil' has its origins in the late Middle English, deriving from the Old French term 'despoiller', meaning 'to strip off' or 'to rob'. This itself comes from the Latin 'despoliare', composed of 'de-' meaning 'down from' and 'spoilium', which means 'spoils' or 'booty'. Over time, the word evolved to encompass not only the act of stealing valuables but also the act of damaging or ruining the integrity or beauty of an object or environment. Throughout history, despoil has been used to describe various forms of plunder, particularly in the context of war or conquest, making it a term strongly associated with aggression and loss.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,826 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.