Crossword Genius

Desperate outsiders wreck and plunder it (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

despoil

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'plunder it' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'desperate outsiders wreck' is the wordplay.
'desperate' becomes 'dire' (I've seen this in another clue).
'outsiders' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (only the letters on the outside of the word remain).
'wreck' becomes 'spoil' (I've seen this before).
'dire' with its middle taken out is 'de'.
'de'+'spoil'='DESPOIL'

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for despoil that I've seen before include "Steal from (a place)" , "Plunder - I sloped (anag)" , "Plunder, rob" , "Plunder, devastate" , "Plunder (a place)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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