pillage

[ pil-ij ]

verb (used with object)

, pil·laged, pil·lag·ing.

1. to strip ruthlessly of money or goods by open violence, as in war; plunder:

   The barbarians pillaged every conquered city.

   Synonyms: rape, despoil, spoil, sack, rob

2. to take as booty.

verb (used without object)

, pil·laged, pil·lag·ing.

1. to rob with open violence; take booty:

   Soldiers roamed the countryside, pillaging and killing.

noun

1. the act of plundering, especially in war.

   Synonyms: spoliation, depredation, rapine

2. booty or spoil.

   Synonyms: plunder

pillage

/ ˈpɪlɪdʒ /

verb

1. to rob (a town, village, etc) of (booty or spoils), esp during a war

noun

1. the act of pillaging
2. something obtained by pillaging; booty

Derived Forms

• ˈpillager, noun

Other Words From

• pillag·er noun
• un·pillaged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pillage¹

1350–1400; Middle English pilage ( pill ³, -age ), modeled on Middle French pillage (derivative of piller to pillage, originally, to abuse, mistreat, tear, of uncertain origin)

Word History and Origins

Origin of pillage¹

C14: via Old French from piller to despoil, probably from peille rag, from Latin pīleus felt cap

Example Sentences

Will the Obama coalition now forever outvote and and pillage the makers of American wealth?

From The Daily Beast

They will use their majority to pillage the makers and redistribute to the takers.

From The Daily Beast

Those who carry out this pillage probably believe they can outrun their own destructiveness.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, they were complicit in the plastic pillage that generated a fortune in fees from the member banks and their execs.

From The Daily Beast

What reliance could repose upon a house, divided against itself—not safe from the extravagance and pillage of its own members?

From Project Gutenberg

Cuenca, Spain, taken by the French under Caulincourt, and given up to pillage.

From Project Gutenberg

So there was pillage and raiding across the Parrett, and at last Ina had sent messages to Gerent concerning it.

From Project Gutenberg

He gave up the town to pillage and rapine, allowing the doing of such deeds as have consigned his name to well-merited infamy.

From Project Gutenberg

Never forget our rule: 'A true vagabond, twenty-four hours after a pillage, must have nothing left but his skin and his knife.'

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• desecrate
• loot
• maraud
• pilfer
• ransack
• ravage