Meaning

To search (a place, through things, etc.) thoroughly, especially when vigorous and leaving behind a state of disarray..

Definitions by Sense

1. To search (a place, through things, etc.) thoroughly, especially when vigorous and leaving behind a state of disarray.
2. To search (someone or a place) thoroughly in order to steal something, especially when vigorous and leaving behind a state of disarray; hence, to rob (someone or a place); to plunder.
3. To search for and steal (something) as plunder.
4. To examine (someone or something) carefully; to investigate; also, to question (someone) thoroughly; to interrogate.
5. To look for or seek out (someone).
6. To search (someone) for a thing.
7. Synonym of penetrate (“to make way into the interior of (something); to pierce”); also, synonym of pervade (“to enter and spread through (something); to permeate”).
8. To search thoroughly, especially when leaving behind a state of disarray.

Example Sentences

What a ſorowe hath it been to ſome of vs when the deuils hath in deſpightfull mockage, caſt in our teeth our olde loue borne to our money, and then ſhewed vs our executours as buſily ryfling ⁊ ranſaking our houſes as though they wer men of warre that had taken a towne by force.

He hath ranſaked all the chyſtes I haue for his beades: […]

She [a hen] scratches, ransacks up the earth for food, / Which they [chicks] partake at pleasure.

to ransack a house for valuables

If they thought howe ſoone in what painefull plight they ſhall lye a dying, while theyr executours afore their face ranſake vp theyr ſackes, they woulde I wene ſhortly empty theyr ſackes themſelues.

In Troy there lyes the Scene: From Iles of Greece / The Princes Orgillous, their high blood chaf'd / Haue to the Port of Athens ſent their ſhippes / […] their vovv is made / To ranſacke Troy, vvithin vvhoſe ſtrong emures / The rauiſh'd Helen, Menelaus Queene, / VVith vvanton Paris ſleepes, and that's the Quarrell.

VVhy, raiſing Tumults thus among the Just, / Offer'ſt thou Violence to my ſacred Duſt? / VVhy ranſackeſt my Grave? and ſummon'ſt me / From my Long Home, Seat of Eternitie?

Here Aguirre took up his lodging, and here he kept his men ready for battle, till the night came on, […] then he permitted them to ransack the town.

Word Forms

• ransacks
• ransacking
• ransacked
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• ransack
• ransackest
• ransackedst
• ransacketh
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Synonyms for ransack

Related Words

When Should You Use Ransack?

Use ransack when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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