Plunder vs Usurp - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between plunder and usurp

is that plunder is while usurp is to seize power from another, usually by illegitimate means.

(en verb)

To pillage, take or destroy all the goods of, by force (as in war); to raid, sack.

''The mercenaries plundered the small town.

The shopkeeper was plundered of his possessions by the burglar.

To take (goods) by pillage.

The mercenaries plundered all the goods they found.

To take by force or wrongfully; to commit robbery or looting, to raid.

''"Now to plunder , mateys!" screamed a buccaneer, to cries of "Arrgh!" and "Aye!" all around.

To make extensive (over)use of, as if by plundering; to use or use up wrongfully.

''The miners plundered the jungle for its diamonds till it became a muddy waste.

* 2014 , , " Southampton hammer eight past hapless Sunderland in barmy encounter", The Guardian , 18 October 2014:

The Serb teed up Steve Davis, who crossed low for Graziano Pellè to plunder his fifth league goal of the campaign.

* plunderable * plunderage * plunderer * plunderous

(-)

An instance of plundering

The loot attained by plundering

''The Hessian kept his choicest plunder in a sack that never left his person, for fear that his comrades would steal it.

(slang, dated) baggage; luggage

(en verb)

To seize power from another, usually by illegitimate means.

To use and assume the coat of arms of another person.

(obsolete) To make use of.

* 1662 , , Appendix, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 149: