plundering
n. uncountable C1 Advanced US //ˈpɫəndɝɪŋ// UK //plˈʌndəɹɪŋ// plun·der·ing
n. the act of stealing or taking things by force, especially from a place that has been attacked. It often happens during a war or a riot.
n. the act of seizing property by force, typically during a military occupation or a riot. Often implies a lack of legal authority or a systematic stripping of resources.
The city was left in ruins after days of plundering.
Historical accounts describe the plundering of the royal treasury as a primary motive for the invading army.
The aftermath of the revolution was marked by widespread plundering of state archives, leaving the new government without the necessary documentation to establish legal ownership of land.