Looter
noun
A person who steals goods during a war, disaster, riot, etc.
After the earthquake, looters broke into the store and stole everything.
Often appears as...
- armed looter
- store looter
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A person who steals goods during a war, disaster, riot, etc.
After the earthquake, looters broke into the store and stole everything.
Often appears as...
- armed looter
- store looter
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The word 'looter' is pejorative, implying a wrong or immoral action during chaotic events.
The city was under curfew after reports of looters in the downtown area.
Pro Tip 2/3Specific Contexts
'Looter' is used specifically when the stealing is in the context of larger-scale unrest or emergency situations.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, looters were seen taking advantage of the abandoned shops.
Pro Tip 3/3Implies Opportunism
'Looter' often implies someone opportunistically stealing during confusion, rather than premeditated theft.
As the blackout continued, some looters began to target electronics stores.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The word 'looter' is pejorative, implying a wrong or immoral action during chaotic events.
The city was under curfew after reports of looters in the downtown area.
Pro Tip 2/3Specific Contexts
'Looter' is used specifically when the stealing is in the context of larger-scale unrest or emergency situations.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, looters were seen taking advantage of the abandoned shops.
Pro Tip 3/3Implies Opportunism
'Looter' often implies someone opportunistically stealing during confusion, rather than premeditated theft.
As the blackout continued, some looters began to target electronics stores.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
The word 'looter' is pejorative, implying a wrong or immoral action during chaotic events.
The city was under curfew after reports of looters in the downtown area.
Pro Tip 2/3Specific Contexts
'Looter' is used specifically when the stealing is in the context of larger-scale unrest or emergency situations.
In the aftermath of the hurricane, looters were seen taking advantage of the abandoned shops.
Pro Tip 3/3Implies Opportunism
'Looter' often implies someone opportunistically stealing during confusion, rather than premeditated theft.
As the blackout continued, some looters began to target electronics stores.
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Video examples
John Hockenberry: We are...
People were carrying off vehicles, carrying off pieces of buildings. Soldiers were in the streets shooting at looters and herding some in mass arrests. In the middle of this chaos, I'm rolling around in a wheelchair, and I was completely invisible. Completely. I was in a wheelchair; I didn't look like a looter.
Video examples
Exploring Ciudad Perdida...
And they were led by other looters. Looters led the way, huh? Yeah, it's actually pretty incredible because they were-- they got into a shotgun fight. The looters were after the gold that's in the burials. And one looter came out with, you know, more than 80 pieces of gold from one burial. Wow.
Video examples
John Hockenberry: We are...
People were carrying off vehicles, carrying off pieces of buildings. Soldiers were in the streets shooting at looters and herding some in mass arrests. In the middle of this chaos, I'm rolling around in a wheelchair, and I was completely invisible. Completely. I was in a wheelchair; I didn't look like a looter.
Video examples
Exploring Ciudad Perdida...
And they were led by other looters. Looters led the way, huh? Yeah, it's actually pretty incredible because they were-- they got into a shotgun fight. The looters were after the gold that's in the burials. And one looter came out with, you know, more than 80 pieces of gold from one burial. Wow.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Ayn Rand
Russian Writer
Run for your life from any man who tells you that money is evil. That sentence is the leper's bell of an approaching looter.
Quote examples
Ayn Rand
Russian Writer
Run for your life from any man who tells you that money is evil. That sentence is the leper's bell of an approaching looter.
Example 1 of 1
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