pillaged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pillaged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of stealing goods, especially during a time of war or conflict, or to indicate the act of taking something by force. Example: "The ancient city was pillaged by invading forces, leaving its inhabitants in despair."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Trailing Duvalier's old mother with them, they lived in opulent hotels and villas on the French Riviera, drawing on the $100m or so they had pillaged from state funds.

The Guardian

The most violent paramilitary leader of the Croatian and Bosnian wars, Zeljko Raznatovic, known universally as Arkan, was the leader of the most violent Red Star fans, the delije, who he recruited to form the core of his paramilitary group, the Tigers, who murdered and pillaged their way across the wreckage of Yugoslavia, before Arkan was assassinated in Belgrade in 2000.

The Guardian - Sport

Rampaging Fijians pillaged the city centre, looting mainly Indian shops.Hundreds of ethnic-Fijian supporters of Mr Speight have entered the Parliament gardens, passing through a porous police cordon.

The Economist

Houses had been looted, water and electricity lines ploughed up, ministries pillaged and offices wrecked.Before he arrived, Mr Powell played downs hopes of an agreement.

The Economist

The Ottoman powers in Athens cared nothing for the ruins of Greek antiquity, and had already pillaged them for building stone or bricked them up for gun-placements.

The Economist

All parties then proceeded to loot Congo's minerals, as innumerable local militias slaughtered and pillaged.

The Economist

The result, "Noah", tells the tale of the ark from a postmodern, environmentalist perspective in which humans have pillaged the planetFrom our blogsAmericas: What if they had saved some of the money?Hugo Chávez largely squandered the riches of the 2000s oil boom.

The Economist

Banks and offices have been pillaged by rampant rebels.Mr Maiga says he saw a truck of National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) rebels abduct three young women on the street in front of his house the day before he fled.

The Economist

With hundreds of archaeological sites pillaged and cities like Aleppo gutted, no conflict since the second world war has caused such widespread damage to the world's cultural heritage.The war, or wars, took a grim twist towards the absurd on June 29th when ISIS proclaimed its territory a caliphate.

The Economist

Ministries pillaged, shopping arcades torched, banks broken into and roads cut in half by bulldozed earth mounds and cars crushed by tanks.

The Economist

In the orgy that followed victory, Japanese soldiers murdered and pillaged; an estimated 10,000 women were raped.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pillaged" to vividly describe the act of seizing goods by force, especially in historical or conflict-related contexts. Ensure the subject is capable of such actions (e.g., armies, invaders).

Common error

Avoid using "pillaged" to describe simple theft or loss. The term carries a connotation of violence and widespread looting, making it inappropriate for everyday situations.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pillaged" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb pillage, indicating an action that has already occurred. Ludwig AI confirms that it's usable in written English. It describes the act of stealing goods, especially during conflict.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Encyclopedias

32%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "pillaged" functions as the past tense of the verb 'pillage' and describes the action of seizing goods by force, typically during a war or period of conflict. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It frequently appears in neutral to formal contexts, particularly in historical accounts, news reports, and encyclopedic entries. While alternatives like "looted" or "plundered" exist, "pillaged" carries a strong connotation of violence and widespread destruction. Avoid using it in non-violent contexts to prevent misrepresentation. Ludwig's analysis highlights its frequent appearance in sources like The Economist and Encyclopedia Britannica.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

looted

Implies stealing goods, often during a war or riot, with a focus on the act of theft.

plundered

Suggests taking goods by force, especially during wartime; emphasizes the violence and thoroughness of the act.

ransacked

Emphasizes a thorough and destructive search, often resulting in theft and damage.

despoiled

Indicates stripping a place of valuables and beauty, often leaving it ruined.

ravaged

Highlights the destructive impact of an attack, with looting as a component.

sacked

Implies the violent seizure and destruction of a city or town.

stripped

Focuses on the act of removing possessions, often leaving something bare or empty.

raided

Suggests a sudden attack to seize goods or supplies.

spoiled

Indicates damaging or ruining something, often in the context of resources or land.

gutted

Implies the complete destruction or removal of the interior of something.

FAQs

What does "pillaged" mean?

Pillaged means to steal goods using force, especially during a war or period of conflict. It implies widespread looting and often involves violence and destruction.

What can I say instead of "pillaged"?

You can use alternatives like "looted", "plundered", or "ransacked" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

How is "pillaged" different from "looted"?

While both words describe stealing during a disturbance, "pillaged" often suggests a more violent and widespread act, usually associated with war or invasion. "Looted" can apply to a broader range of situations, including riots or natural disasters.

Is it correct to say a company was "pillaged" by its executives?

While you can use "pillaged" metaphorically, it's crucial to consider the strong connotations of violence and destruction. A more appropriate term might be "embezzled", "defrauded", or "misappropriated", which better reflect financial wrongdoing.