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spoilation

spoilation

9.9
Taking things by force from a place, often during war
  • noun
  • /spɔɪˈleɪʃən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : despojo
  • The spoilation of the ship's cargo led to severe losses for the trading company.

Examples

  • During the war, the spoilation of villages was common as soldiers sought resources.

  • No, he would leave the telling of the spoilation to Will Gordon.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The spoilation of the ancient ruins left the area desolate and stripped of its history.

Synonyms

looting
vsspoilation
72 4.9

Stealing things from shops, often during a riot or disaster

means forceful taking generally, without limiting to riots or war
pillaging
vsspoilation
7 7.7

Taking things from places like shops during war or disaster

covers forceful stripping in any context, not only wartime
depredation
vsspoilation
  • Specialized
4 9.8

Damage and stealing caused by a violent attack

focuses on taking by force rather than on causing wider destruction
ransacking
vsspoilation
1 7.3

A complete search that makes a place very messy or damaged

emphasizes taking by force rather than searching or mainly causing disorder
spoliation
vsspoilation
1 9.9

Taking goods by force, often during war or disorder

focuses on forceful stripping without legal emphasis
despoilation
vsspoilation
9.9

Violent stealing and damage of things from a place

emphasizes forceful taking but not always explicit violent aggression
despoliation
vsspoilation
9.9

A violent taking of valuable things from a place like a temple or forest

applies to forceful taking of items broadly, not only valuables
despoilment
vsspoilation
9.8

The forceful taking of things like money, land or trees that causes damage

focuses on stripping or taking by force in general situations
plunderage
vsspoilation
9.9

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

is broader, covering forceful stripping beyond just cargo theft
disappropriation
vsspoilation
  • Formal
9.9

Taking something away from the person who owns or uses it

involves forceful stripping, not just removal from rightful hands

Antonyms

974 1.0

Keeping people or things safe from harm

117 3.5

Protecting and carefully managing nature and natural resources

How Violent

spoilation
  • Archaic
9.9
plundering
2 6.0
looting
72 4.9
to raid
60 3.4
seizure
  • Formal
71 6.1

Surface Forms

spoilation singular
spoilations plural

Morphology

spoilation = spoil (transparent) = spoil + ation

Formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ation' to the verb 'spoil', yielding 'the act of spoiling/plundering', which is predictable from the base.

Etymology

Spoilation comes from an old Latin word meaning 'to strip' and is related to the English spoil, as in 'spoils of war'. So it gives the image of people taking goods by force and means plundering or pillaging.