Ransack vs. Sack — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 27, 2024
Ransack involves a thorough, often chaotic search through something, while sack mainly refers to the act of looting or pillaging without the implication of searching.
Difference Between Ransack and Sack
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Ransack typically implies a vigorous and thorough search through an area or container, often resulting in disarray. Whereas sack, used especially in historical contexts, refers primarily to the act of looting or plundering a place, usually with force and without the necessity of a detailed search.
Ransacking often suggests a goal of finding something specific within the chaos created, suggesting a level of desperation or urgency. On the other hand, to sack a city or place emphasizes the destruction and theft of valuables more than the process of searching itself.
While ransack can apply to varied contexts, from a person searching through a desk to police conducting a detailed investigation, sack is more limited in scope, typically associated with large-scale theft and destruction during wars or riots.
The term ransack can be used metaphorically to describe intense scrutiny or investigation, as in someone's life or a complex issue. In contrast, sack rarely carries such metaphorical uses and retains a more physical and aggressive connotation.
Ransack is derived from the Old Norse "rannsaka," meaning to search a house, indicating a detailed and invasive process. Sack originates from the French "sac," relating to the act of pulling out goods from a sacked town or city, underlining the aspect of extraction and removal.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Thorough search causing disorder
Looting or plundering a place
Connotation
Searching with urgency, often chaotically
Associated with theft and destruction
Usage Contexts
Legal searches, personal investigations
Historical events, military contexts
Metaphorical Use
Scrutiny, intense examination
Rarely used metaphorically
Etymological Origin
Old Norse "rannsaka"
French "sac"
Compare with Definitions
Ransack
Legal or investigative search.
The police ransacked the suspect’s house for evidence.
Sack
To loot or plunder a place.
The invaders sacked the village.
Ransack
To go through a place causing disorder.
The thieves ransacked every drawer.
Sack
Used in military contexts.
The army sacked the opposing capital.
Ransack
Used metaphorically to mean examine in detail.
The biography ransacks his early life for clues.
Sack
Historically associated with theft.
The sack of Rome was a devastating event.
Ransack
To search thoroughly and messily.
They ransacked the office looking for the documents.
Sack
To cause widespread destruction.
The troops sacked every house they came across.
Ransack
To create chaos while searching.
The room looked like someone had ransacked it.
Sack
To remove goods by force.
They sacked the ancient city.
Ransack
Go through (a place) stealing things and causing damage
Burglars ransacked her home
Sack
A large bag made of a strong material such as hessian, thick paper, or plastic, used for storing and carrying goods.
Ransack
To search through (something) thoroughly and often roughly
Ransacked the drawer looking for my keys.
Sack
A woman's short loose unwaisted dress, typically narrowing at the hem, popular especially in the 1950s.
Ransack
To go through (a place) stealing valuables and causing disarray; pillage
Ransacked the village.
Sack
Dismissal from employment
They were given the sack
He got the sack for swearing
Ransack
(transitive) To loot or pillage. See also sack.
Sack
A base.
Ransack
(transitive) To make a vigorous and thorough search of (a place, person) with a view to stealing something, especially when leaving behind a state of disarray.
To ransack a house for valuables
Sack
An act of tackling of a quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
Ransack
(archaic) To examine carefully; to investigate.
Sack
The pillaging of a town or city
The sack of Rome
Ransack
To violate; to ravish; to deflower.
Sack
A dry white wine formerly imported into Britain from Spain and the Canaries.
Ransack
Eager search.
Sack
Dismiss from employment
Any official found to be involved would be sacked on the spot
Ransack
To search thoroughly; to search every place or part of; as, to ransack a house.
To ransack every corner of their . . . hearts.
Sack
Tackle (a quarterback) behind the line of scrimmage
Oregon intercepted five of his passes and sacked him five times
Ransack
To plunder; to pillage completely.
Their vow is madeTo ransack Troy.
Sack
Put into a sack or sacks
A small part of his wheat had been sacked
Ransack
To violate; to ravish; to defiour.
Rich spoil of ransacked chastity.
Sack
(chiefly in historical contexts) plunder and destroy (a captured town or building)
The fort was rebuilt in AD 158 and was sacked again in AD 197
Ransack
The act of ransacking, or state of being ransacked; pillage.
Even your father's houseShall not be free from ransack.
Sack
A bag, especially one made of strong material for holding grain or objects in bulk.
Ransack
Steal goods; take as spoils;
During the earthquake people looted the stores that were deserted by their owners
Sack
The amount that a sack can hold
Sold two sacks of rice.
Ransack
Search thoroughly;
They combed the area for the missing child
Sack
Also sacque A short loose-fitting garment for women and children.
Sack
(Slang) Dismissal from employment
Finally got the sack after a year of ineptitude.
Sack
(Informal) A bed, mattress, or sleeping bag
Hit the sack at 10:00.
Sack
(Baseball) A base.
Sack
(Football) A successful attempt at sacking the quarterback.
Sack
The looting or pillaging of a captured city or town.
Sack
Any of various light, dry, strong wines from Spain and the Canary Islands, imported to England in the 1500s and 1600s.
Sack
To place into a sack
Sacked the groceries.
Sack
(Slang) To discharge from employment
Sacked the workers who were caught embezzling.
Sack
(Football) To tackle (a quarterback attempting to pass the ball) behind the line of scrimmage.
Sack
To rob (a town, for example) of goods or valuables, especially after capture.
Sack
A bag; especially a large bag of strong, coarse material for storage and handling of various commodities, such as potatoes, coal, coffee; or, a bag with handles used at a supermarket, a grocery sack; or, a small bag for small items, a satchel.
Sack
The amount a sack holds; also, an archaic or historical measure of varying capacity, depending on commodity type and according to local usage; an old English measure of weight, usually of wool, equal to 13 stone (182 pounds), or in other sources, 26 stone (364 pounds).
Sack
(uncountable) The plunder and pillaging of a captured town or city.
The sack of Rome
Sack
(uncountable) Loot or booty obtained by pillage.
Sack
(American football) A successful tackle of the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. See verb sense4 below.
Sack
(baseball) One of the square bases anchored at first base, second base, or third base.
He twisted his ankle sliding into the sack at second.
Sack
(informal) Dismissal from employment, or discharge from a position, usually as give (someone) the sack or get the sack. See verb sense5 below.
The boss is gonna give her the sack today.
He got the sack for being late all the time.
Sack
Bed (either literally or figuratively); usually as hit the sack or in the sack. See also sack out.
Sack
(dated) (also sacque) A kind of loose-fitting gown or dress with sleeves which hangs from the shoulders, such as a gown with a Watteau back or sack-back, fashionable in the late 17th to 18th century; or, formerly, a loose-fitting hip-length jacket, cloak or cape.
Sack
(dated) A sack coat; a kind of coat worn by men, and extending from top to bottom without a cross seam.
Sack
The scrotum.
He got passed the ball, but it hit him in the sack.
Sack
(dated) A variety of light-colored dry wine from Spain or the Canary Islands; also, any strong white wine from southern Europe; sherry.
Sack
Alternative spelling of sac
Sack
To put in a sack or sacks.
Help me sack the groceries.
Sack
To bear or carry in a sack upon the back or the shoulders.
Sack
To plunder or pillage, especially after capture; to obtain spoils of war from.
The barbarians sacked Rome in 410 CE.
Sack
(American football) To tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage, especially before he is able to throw a pass.
Sack
To discharge from a job or position; to fire.
He was sacked last September.
Sack
A name formerly given to various dry Spanish wines.
Sack
A bag for holding and carrying goods of any kind; a receptacle made of some kind of pliable material, as cloth, leather, and the like; a large pouch.
Sack
A measure of varying capacity, according to local usage and the substance. The American sack of salt is 215 pounds; the sack of wheat, two bushels.
Sack
Originally, a loosely hanging garment for women, worn like a cloak about the shoulders, and serving as a decorative appendage to the gown; now, an outer garment with sleeves, worn by women; as, a dressing sack.
Sack
A sack coat; a kind of coat worn by men, and extending from top to bottom without a cross seam.
Sack
See 2d Sac, 2.
Sack
Bed.
Sack
To put in a sack; to bag; as, to sack corn.
Bolsters sacked in cloth, blue and crimson.
Sack
To bear or carry in a sack upon the back or the shoulders.
Sack
To plunder or pillage, as a town or city; to devastate; to ravage.
The Romans lay under the apprehensions of seeing their city sacked by a barbarous enemy.
Sack
A bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases
Sack
An enclosed space;
The trapped miners found a pocket of air
Sack
The quantity contained in a sack
Sack
Any of various light dry strong white wine from Spain and Canary Islands (including sherry)
Sack
A woman's full loose hiplength jacket
Sack
A hanging bed of canvas or rope netting (usually suspended between two trees); swing easily
Sack
A loose-fitting dress hanging straight from the shoulders without a waist
Sack
The plundering of a place by an army or mob; usually involves destruction and slaughter;
The sack of Rome
Sack
The termination of someone's employment (leaving them free to depart)
Sack
Plunder (a town) after capture;
The barbarians sacked Rome
Sack
Terminate the employment of;
The boss fired his secretary today
The company terminated 25% of its workers
Sack
Make as a net profit;
The company cleared $1 million
Sack
Put in a sack;
The grocer sacked the onions
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to ransack a place?
To ransack a place means to search through it thoroughly, often leaving it in disarray.
Is sack used in modern language outside of historical references?
Sack is less commonly used in modern language, primarily retained in historical or military contexts.
Does sack have any metaphorical uses?
Sack is rarely used metaphorically and remains strongly tied to physical acts of plunder.
What does sack mean in historical terms?
Historically, to sack a place refers to looting or plundering it, especially during war.
Can ransack have a positive connotation?
Ransack generally has a negative connotation, implying chaos and messiness.
What is the difference between ransack and search?
Ransack implies a more chaotic, invasive search compared to a general search.
Can ransack be used legally?
Yes, ransack can be used to describe thorough legal searches, although it often implies a lack of order.
Are there synonyms for ransack that convey a less chaotic search?
Yes, synonyms like "search thoroughly" or "comb through" are less chaotic.
What can be ransacked besides physical locations?
Ideas, policies, and personal lives can be metaphorically ransacked for detailed examination.
What type of actions are involved in sacking a city?
Sacking a city involves looting, destroying property, and other acts of violence.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
