ransack

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To loot or pillage.
2. (transitive) To make a vigorous and thorough search of (a place, person) with a view to stealing something, especially when leaving behind a state of disarray.
3. (archaic) To examine carefully; to investigate.
4. To violate; to ravish; to deflower.

Noun

Eager search.

Synonyms

plunder

search

rummage

rob

loot

pillage

sack

despoil

rifle

comb

ravage

foray

strip

stir up

reave

maraud

snatch

steal

devastate

churn

hold up

harry

disturb

hunt for

raid

search through

burgle

investigate

snoop

spoil

spy

stick up

thieve

trample down

tread down

vandalize

hunt up

tamper with

throw into confusion

turn upside down

scatter about

abuse

fish

🐟

mess about with

rearch

make in confusion

over-run

search thoroughly

bereave

break in

Translations

saccager

saquear

mettre à sac

saccheggiare

piller

durchwühlen

fouiller

plündern

plunderen

durchstöbern

saquear

depredare

mettere a sacco

ausrauben

ausplündern

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɹænsæk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: ransaken

Cognate with Danish: ransage

Cognate with Swedish: rannsaka

In summary

From Middle English ransaken, from Old Norse rannsaka, from rann (“house”) + saka (“search”); probably influenced by sack. Compare Danish ransage, Swedish rannsaka.