Skip to main content
pillaging

pillaging

7 7.7
Taking things from places like shops during war or disaster
  • noun
  • /ˈpɪlɪdʒɪŋ/
translation icon : saqueo
  • To my knowledge, there is no systematic pillaging of archaeological sites in Eastern Africa comparable to the situation in Mali.
  • pillaging of sites

Examples

  • The soldiers were charged with the pillaging of the abandoned town, taking anything of value they could find.

  • Plenty of villages ripe for pillaging.

  • As one of the Europeans observed, the expedition often made its way by shooting and pillaging.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Finally, pillaging involved the seizing of supplies alongside the destruction of property.

  • Communities are being disrupted by environmental pillaging to fuel China's insatiable need for resources.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Retirement back to Messina was ordered after a few weeks and a very successful pillaging expedition to Agrigento, conducted by Roger.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Bajai Baura is a small, poor town that suffers from constant pillaging by thieves.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • In fact, it more closely resembled decentralized, disorganized looting and pillaging rather than a cohesive military action.

    Academic text (2018)
  • During the war, pillaging often left villages stripped of their resources and in utter ruin.

  • The historical accounts detailed the pillaging that occurred after the battle, when looters took advantage of the chaos.

Synonyms

robbery
vspillaging
749 2.3

Stealing things from people and places such as shops and banks using force or threats

is like this crime but specifically emphasizes wartime or forceful context
looting
vspillaging
72 4.9

Stealing things from shops, often during a riot or disaster

is similar but stresses organized or wartime force rather than chaos theft
pillage
vspillaging
5 8.1

Stealing things from buildings during war or riots

is the same forceful wartime taking but stated in broader terms
plundering
vspillaging
2 6.0

The act of taking valuable things by force, often during war

is the same violent wartime theft but emphasized as a general act
banditry
vspillaging
2 7.9

The act of attacking people to steal from them, often done by organized gangs

is the violent act of taking goods rather than the organized practice
sack
vspillaging
  • Archaic
1 9.2

The act of looting and destroying a place during war

is the same violent taking but less focused on destruction
rapine
vspillaging
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Violent stealing of things from people, often during war

is similar but can apply more generally, not only formal seizure
spoliation
vspillaging
1 9.9

Taking goods by force, often during war or disorder

is the common violent wartime taking, less legalistic in tone
marauding
vspillaging
  • NSFW
1 8.7

A violent attack to steal things from places

is similar but often names the overall act of violent taking
spoilation
vspillaging
  • Archaic
9.9

Taking things by force from a place, often during war

is the broader violent stealing act rather than focusing on stripping
plunderage
vspillaging
9.9

An act of stealing goods, often the cargo from a ship

is like this sea cargo theft but applies to forceful theft in general
freebooting
vspillaging
  • Archaic
9.9

An attack on ships or coasts to steal goods

is similar but covers any violent theft on land or at war

Antonyms

974 1.0

Keeping people or things safe from harm

defense
  • US
460 1.4

Protection from attack, danger, harm, or illness

How Violent

pillaging
7 7.7
robbery
749 2.3
looting
72 4.9
theft
356 1.1

Surface Forms

pillaging singular
pillagings plural

Morphology

pillaging = pillage (transparent) = pillage + ing

The meaning is directly derived from the verb 'pillage' with a standard nominalizing/gerundive '-ing', so learners who know 'pillage' can infer this sense.

Etymology

Pillaging comes from the old French piller, which meant 'to pluck' or 'to strip'. A helpful image is the English word 'pluck' — taking things away quickly — and that's why pillaging means stealing goods by force, often during war.