plunderer

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'plunderer' is correct and usable in written English.
It means a person who steals goods or valuables by force, especially during times of war or civil unrest. It can also be used to describe someone who takes advantage of a situation or exploits others for their own gain. Example: The village was left in ruins by the plunderers who had ransacked it for all its valuable resources.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Who in Holland could object to the plundering of a plunderer?

The New York Times - Books

On February 5th, the Supreme Court declared former President Suharto, Indonesia's chief plunderer for 32 years, medically unfit to stand trial, upholding an earlier ruling by a lower court.

The Economist

Some of the country's 226m people, meanwhile, debated his legacy: was he a nation-builder or a plunderer of the nation's wealth?

The Economist

No the plunderer was a Scot.Whatever Lord Elgin's motives, his actions certainly saved the marbles from disfigurement.

The Economist

In offering more, Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan's boss, hopes to recast himself not as a plunderer but as a pragmatist focused on people as well as price.Other things needed revisiting, too.

The Economist

Fifteen years later his company, renamed Interface, was the biggest carpet-tile maker on the planet.This also made Mr Anderson a considerable plunderer of the earth.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

They were often plundering from plunderers.

The New York Times

They will come to change capitalism for the better, Messrs Durand and Vergne think, as pirates often do.In this section Thinking men Out of the chrysalis Eye on the main chance The miller's tale Night vision Offstage noise ReprintsPirates have a long history, from plunderers of the Barbary coast to modern Chinese cybercriminals.

The Economist

To take a more recent example, Arundhati Roy, India's Booker-prize novelist, not long ago wrote a long and impassioned article in one of India's weekly magazines portraying capitalists, especially foreign ones, as plunderers.Mr Das, on the other hand, thinks that capitalism will cure many of the ills that Nehru's socialism compounded.

The Economist

"If the plunderers continue their abuses," he said, "the state will recover those businesses and hand them over to the people".

The Economist

Some of the greedy plunderers, predictably, see things differently.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "plunderer" when you want to emphasize the act of stealing goods by force, especially in a historical or wartime context. It adds a strong, often negative, connotation.

Common error

Avoid using "plunderer" in situations where 'thief' or 'exploiter' would be more appropriate. "Plunderer" carries a specific historical and violent connotation that may be too strong for everyday theft or exploitation.

Linguistic Context

The word "plunderer" functions primarily as a noun, designating an individual who engages in plundering, that is, the act of stealing goods by force, particularly during war or civil unrest. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in historical and journalistic contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

27%

Science

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plunderer" is a grammatically sound noun used to describe someone who steals by force, particularly in settings of conflict or exploitation. According to Ludwig AI, the term is correct and usable, though uncommon. Its usage appears most frequently in news and media, historical accounts from encyclopedias, and potentially scientific analysis of resource exploitation. When choosing synonyms, consider "looter", "pillager", or "marauder" based on the specific context. Overusing "plunderer" in modern everyday scenarios should be avoided as it carries a strong historical and violent association.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

looter

Similar in meaning, but often implies stealing during a riot or disaster.

pillager

Emphasizes violent seizure of goods, especially in wartime.

despoiler

Highlights the act of stripping something of its value or beauty.

marauder

Focuses on roaming and raiding for plunder.

raider

Suggests a sudden attack to seize goods.

freebooter

Implies a pirate or adventurer who plunders.

spoiler

A person who prevents others from enjoying something or achieving success.

exploiter

Focuses on taking unfair advantage of someone or something.

profiteer

Describes someone who makes excessive profits, especially during a shortage or emergency.

thief

A general term for someone who steals, without the implication of violence or large-scale looting.

FAQs

How can I use "plunderer" in a sentence?

You can use "plunderer" to describe someone who steals goods by force, like "The village was raided by "plunderers"" or to describe someone who exploits resources, such as "He was seen as a "plunderer of the nation's wealth"".

What's the difference between "plunderer" and "thief"?

"Thief" is a general term for someone who steals. A "plunderer", however, typically steals goods by force or during a time of conflict or unrest, suggesting a more aggressive and opportunistic form of theft.

Are there synonyms for "plunderer" that I can use?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use synonyms such as "looter", "pillager", or "marauder". Each of these words carries slightly different nuances related to the act of stealing.

In what context is it appropriate to use the word "plunderer"?

The term "plunderer" is most appropriately used in contexts involving war, historical accounts of raiding, or situations where there is widespread theft and destruction. It emphasizes the violent and opportunistic nature of the stealing.