Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [dih-spoil]
- /dɪˈspɔɪl/
- /dɪˈspɔɪl/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [dih-spoil]
- /dɪˈspɔɪl/
Definitions of despoil word
- verb despoil To despoil a place means to make it less attractive, valuable, or important by taking things away from it or by destroying it. 3
- verb despoil to strip or deprive by force; plunder; rob; loot 3
- verb transitive despoil to deprive of something of value by or as by force; rob; plunder 3
- verb with object despoil to strip of possessions, things of value, etc.; rob; plunder; pillage. 1
- noun despoil Steal or violently remove valuable or attractive possessions from; plunder. 1
- transitive verb despoil rob, loot 1
Information block about the term
Origin of despoil
First appearance:
before 1175 One of the 8% oldest English words
1175-1225; Middle English despoilen < Old French despoillier < Latin dēspoliāre to strip, rob, plunder, equivalent to dē- de- + spoliāre to plunder; see spoil
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Despoil
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
despoil popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 73% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
According to our data about 56% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
despoil usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for despoil
verb despoil
- denude — To denude an area means to destroy the plants in it.
- maraud — to roam or go around in quest of plunder; make a raid for booty: Freebooters were marauding all across the territory.
- vandalize — to destroy or deface by vandalism: Someone vandalized the museum during the night.
- desolate — A desolate place is empty of people and lacking in comfort.
- devastate — If something devastates an area or a place, it damages it very badly or destroys it totally.
noun despoil
- clean out — If you clean out something such as a cupboard, room, or container, you take everything out of it and clean the inside of it thoroughly.
- dilapidate — to cause or allow (a building, automobile, etc.) to fall into a state of disrepair, as by misuse or neglect (often used passively): The house had been dilapidated by neglect.
- use up — to employ for some purpose; put into service; make use of: to use a knife.
- lay waste — to consume, spend, or employ uselessly or without adequate return; use to no avail or profit; squander: to waste money; to waste words.
- wrecker — a person or thing that wrecks.
Antonyms for despoil
verb despoil
- construct — to draw (a line, angle, or figure) so that certain requirements are satisfied
- improve — to bring into a more desirable or excellent condition: He took vitamins to improve his health.
- clothe — To clothe someone means to provide them with clothes to wear.
- create — To create something means to cause it to happen or exist.
- protect — to defend or guard from attack, invasion, loss, annoyance, insult, etc.; cover or shield from injury or danger.
Top questions with despoil
- what does despoil mean?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with d
- Words starting with de
- Words starting with des
- Words starting with desp
- Words starting with despo
- Words starting with despoi
- Words starting with despoil