What is despoil? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of despoil in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of despoil

despoilverb

cướp bóc

/dɪˈspɔɪl//dɪˈspɔɪl/

Where does the word despoil come from?

The word "despoil" has its roots in Old French, where it was spelled "despolier." It is derived from the Latin "despoliare," which means "to strip or plunder." The Latin verb is a compound of "de-" (meaning "down" or "away") and "spolium" (meaning "booty" or "plunder"). In Middle English, the word "despoil" emerged as a verb meaning "to plunder or pillage," and it was often used to describe the actions of marauders or invaders. Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include broader concepts of destruction, ravage, or devastation. Today, "despoil" is often used in formal or literary contexts to describe the act of plundering or ravaging something, such as a country, a culture, or the environment.

Vocabulary summary despoil

typetransitive verb

meaningplunder, deprive, appropriate; exploit

Example of vocabulary despoilnamespace

  • The vandals despoiled the ancient temple, stealing the priceless artifacts and leaving it in ruins.
  • The thieves despoiled the wealthy businessman's mansion, ransacking every room and fleeing with valuables.
  • The invading army despoiled the villages, destroying homes, stealing crops, and leaving behind a trail of devastation.
  • The pirates despoiled the merchant ships, seizing cargo, plundering treasures, and leaving the sailors stranded.
  • The miners despoiled the forest, clear-cutting the trees, destroying habitats, and polluting water sources.

Synonyms and related words for despoil

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