Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of voracious are gluttonous, rapacious, and ravenous. While all these words mean "excessively greedy," voracious applies especially to habitual gorging with food or drink.

teenagers are often voracious eaters

When could gluttonous be used to replace voracious?

In some situations, the words gluttonous and voracious are roughly equivalent. However, 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 can rapacious be used instead of voracious?

While the synonyms rapacious and voracious are close in meaning, rapacious often suggests excessive and utterly selfish acquisitiveness or avarice.

rapacious developers indifferent to environmental concerns

When might ravenous be a better fit than voracious?

While in some cases nearly identical to voracious, 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

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 voracious These voracious predators happily tackle a wide range of cucurbit pests, including aphids and squash vine borers—all without pesticides. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Apr. 2025 Lilly represents the tension between the old and new guard, flouncing into the White House with a profound disregard for tradition and a voracious desire to tear it all down. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025 How To Get Rid Of Squash Vine Borers These voracious pests can devastate your squash and pumpkin patch, so try these techniques for management, suggests Khan: Inspect your crops. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2025 Rory McIlroy Rory McIlroy is on a voracious quest for his first Masters title. John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for voracious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for voracious
Adjective
  • Conservatives, in their minds, are just always evil, mean, greedy, bad demons.
    Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 16 May 2025
  • Here’s some truth that many women are not accustomed to hearing: wanting to be wealthy is not greedy.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Plus, parents’ avid use of social media means that word spreads quickly, giving the approach a leg up compared with targeting a single demographic that isn’t as enthusiastic online.
    Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 21 May 2025
  • Shah, an avid wine collector, wanted to open his own wine bar.
    Andy Wang, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • The future of Azerbaijan wines appears bright—due to the availability of distinct local grape varieties and dedicated individuals ravenous to craft wines.
    Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • Within about a day, ravenous flesh-eating larvae erupt, which both look and act like literal screws.
    Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • Key Background Leo was born in Chicago as Robert Francis Prevost, and his election as pontiff drew excited responses from Vance and President Donald Trump, who both wished him success in his role leading the Catholic Church.
    Molly Bohannon, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • The nerves turned into excited butterflies as my wave kicked off.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • The result is a record which captures Motörhead in their formative period, fresh from the early lineup which recorded the tracks that would later make up 1979’s On Parole album, yet hungry with the ambition that would turn them into one of the U.K.’s biggest heavy exports of the ’70s and ’80s.
    Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 9 May 2025
  • Remember the body blow of injustice, and don’t get mad — get hungry.
    Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Like Sánchez, many Chicago-area Catholics are making the nearly 4,000-mile pilgrimage to the Vatican to witness the inauguration Mass and other papal events this month, eager to celebrate one of their own rising to become Catholicism’s spiritual leader.
    Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
  • Sometimes the person accepting the soft promotion is eager to move up the ladder.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • In 2019, Joker received an enthusiastic eight-minute reception in Venice.
    Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 13 May 2025
  • The show gets really enthusiastic and vocal reactions from the crowds — mid-act standing ovations and cheers.
    Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • Among Mao’s most ardent admirers, there’s a sense of pride that the US president appears to be borrowing from the revolutionary playbook of their esteemed supreme leader.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 12 May 2025
  • Prime Minister Modi in India has been a very ardent Hindu nationalist.
    Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 10 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Voracious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/voracious. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on voracious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!