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as in predatory
living by killing and eating other animals rapacious mammals, such as coyotes, foxes, and bobcats

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word rapacious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of rapacious are gluttonous, ravenous, and voracious. While all these words mean "excessively greedy," rapacious often suggests excessive and utterly selfish acquisitiveness or avarice.

rapacious developers indifferent to environmental concerns

When can gluttonous be used instead of rapacious?

Although the words gluttonous and rapacious have much in common, gluttonous applies to one who delights in eating or acquiring things especially beyond the point of necessity or satiety.

an admiral who was gluttonous for glory

When could ravenous be used to replace rapacious?

The synonyms ravenous and rapacious are sometimes interchangeable, but ravenous implies excessive hunger and suggests violent or grasping methods of dealing with food or with whatever satisfies an appetite.

a nation with a ravenous lust for territorial expansion

When might voracious be a better fit than rapacious?

The meanings of voracious and rapacious largely overlap; however, voracious applies especially to habitual gorging with food or drink.

teenagers are often voracious eaters

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rapacious Russia is cast as the anti-environmental destroyer, hell-bent on rapacious domination both of Ukraine and of the natural world. David Vetter, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 The rapacious killers can wipe out an entire bee colony within hours. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024 But this particular fight was not actually about putting the interests of patients against those of rapacious corporations. Eric Levitz, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 The archetypal Russia is a malign autocracy, the archetypal United States a rapacious hegemon. Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 25 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rapacious 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapacious
Adjective
  • The greedy wizard had an idea to build beautiful hotels and homes.
    Letters to the Editor, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2025
  • But that’s not the way of most corporate America, despite the endless pushing by greedy bankers and lawyers who don’t have enough work to do to maintain their admittedly lavish lifestyles versus pretty much the rest of the country’s work force.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Since Friday, Vought has sought to switch off the consumer watchdog, which was created after the 2008 financial crash to protect consumers from predatory financial services practices, many of which are not otherwise regulated by the federal government.
    Douglas Gillison, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
  • The department currently oversees federal student loan programs, distributes financial aid and enforces policies meant to protect borrowers from predatory lending practices.
    Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In September 2024, Maduro announced the arrest of five Americans during a crackdown launched by Venezuela’s socialist regime to dismantle what the government claims is a mercenary force assembled by the CIA and Spain’s intelligence service to topple Maduro.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2025
  • The conference — which draws child-abuse pediatricians, social workers, police officers and prosecutors — featured multiple presentations that cast doctors who testify for the defense as both ill informed and mercenary.
    Kirsten Potter Krish Seenivasan David Mason, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • And thanks to the ravenous monsters that nightly disguise themselves as smiling humans and eat anyone unprotected outside, plus various other eldritch horrors like ghosts and malevolent bugs, not to mention dwindling resources and communal infighting, everyone is always on edge.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2024
  • The researchers found that clay sprayed on the water's surface bonds with the carbon, creating sticky balls that become part of the ravenous little creatures' daily smorgasbord.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Pearce plays Van Buren as hungry and avaricious even in his kinder moments, a man of immense wealth whose primary desire is to own more and more.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Ever since the United States liberated Kuwait from the avaricious clutches of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War of 1990-91, the Kuwaitis have supported U.S. priorities in the Middle East and elsewhere.
    Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2022
Adjective
  • Advertisers seemed eager to evoke a smile or recognition, and then get off the stage.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Feb. 2025
  • The Chiefs are trying to become the first NFL team ever to win three Super Bowls in a row, and the Eagles are eager to stop them and avenge their 2023 loss.
    NPR Staff, NPR, 9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, Federation rivals ITV Studios and Fremantle are both rumored to be on the block, while Banijay remains acquisitive and newer players like North Road are part of this evolving conversation.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2025
  • Societies around the world have embraced the competitive and acquisitive spirit hardwired into capitalism, without which incomes decline, poverty increases, and technological progress slows.
    Branko Milanovic, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019

Thesaurus Entries Near rapacious

Cite this Entry

“Rapacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapacious. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

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