Despoiling: meaning, definitions and examples

plundering property

Despoiling refers to the act of stripping away or robbing valuable possessions, often involving violence or force. It can be associated with looting and destruction, particularly in the context of warfare or raids. This term implies a level of arrogance and disregard for the rights of others, as it involves taking what does not belong to the despoiler. The term can also suggest a sense of moral degradation and corruption resulting from such actions.

loot, pillaging, plunder, ransack, rob

Examples of usage

• The armies were despoiling the villages they captured.

• Historical accounts often depict marauders despoiling rich estates.

• The invaders spent weeks despoiling the land.

• After the storm, the looters were despoiling abandoned stores.