verb
despoil
Despoil (verb) means to rob a place or person of everything valuable, as in raiding or pillaging.
verb
1
To rob a place or person of everything valuable, as in raiding or pillaging.
"To dreamers in the West, Tibet is a Shangri-La despoiled by Chinese ruthlessness and rapacity."
— The Economist (2010)
2
To use violence to take someone's belongings away from them.
3
To take someone's clothes off; to undress them.
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Etymology
From Middle English despoylen, dispoylen, from Old French despoillier ( > French dépouiller), from Latin dēspoliō, dēspoliāre.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for despoil
See all rhymes for despoil →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of despoil?
"despoil" (verb) means to rob a place or person of everything valuable, as in raiding or pillaging.
What is another word for despoil?
Other words for "despoil" include strip, spoil, rape, rifle, pillage, loot.
What is the opposite of despoil?
Opposites of "despoil" include equip, dress.
What are the different meanings of despoil?
"despoil" has 3 main meanings: 1. To rob a place or person of everything valuable, as in raiding or pillaging; 2. To use violence to take someone's belongings away from them; 3. To take someone's clothes off; to undress them.
