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 Join 1 other in the comments View Comments And at Max Mara, long-term creative director and famously voracious reader Ian Griffiths (who marks his 40th anniversary at the brand this year) found his sartorial starting point once more in literature – this time, that of the Brontë sisters. Scarlett Conlon, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025 The first part of Cuban’s advice isn’t new: He’s preached the value of voracious reading for years. Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025 Lionfish, voracious hunters of native fish in the western Atlantic, have no native predators in the region—so humans are stepping up to consume them. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025 The fact that this vibrant, voracious, wonderful raconteur with an encyclopedic knowledge of his subject would die from Alzheimer’s seems all the sadder, with no hope anyone could possibly replace him. John Mariani, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for voracious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for voracious
Adjective
  • Yearning for physical perfection—encouraged by a greedy beauty culture intent on feeding it—is a debilitating waste of energy.
    Valerie Monroe, Allure, 28 Mar. 2025
  • In 1545, Spanish colonizers greedy for precious metals established a mining town named Potosí in current-day Bolivia, more than 13,000 feet high, at the foot of a mountain that was rumored to be made of silver.
    Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • After an avid cyclist was killed in a hit-and-run during his morning commute last year, police in New Mexico were at a loss for who could have committed the crime.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Residents who live near a fishing location, spend a lot of time near the water or are avid boaters are encouraged to get involved.
    Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • While Scherzinger’s ravenous performance provides a great part of this revival’s adrenaline, the show is also jolted into new life by the collision of the spartan Lloydiverse with all the plush and purple of Lloyd Webber’s score.
    Vulture Editors, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025
  • By comparing Chandra's observations with the JWST's measurements of hydrogen ionization, the researchers found that galaxies with the most ravenous black holes show the lowest star formation rates.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But the Devils are a bit of a mess thanks to injuries, which makes this matchup hard to get too excited over.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • So, when the opportunity to visit Tanzania arose, I was intrigued and excited to embark on this journey.
    Ronny Maye, Essence, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Argentine manager told reporters that the Panamanians were hungrier.
    Felipe Cardenas, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
  • But on the latest installation of Rolling Stone Recommends, the musician taps into the more feral feelings that come with playing competitive card games with friends, the idea of being monstrously hungry on Survivor, and recovering from watching David Lynch’s Twin Peaks.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • With rising incomes, a booming domestic travel sector and a government eager to improve the country’s tourism infrastructure, India is commanding unprecedented attention from the world’s most prominent hotel brands.
    Ronak D. Desai, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • With big corporations eager to provide visible financial support to the LGBTQ+ community, these celebrations have become bigger, flashier and emblazoned with company logos.
    Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • There was an aerospace position that paid twice as much as U.S.G.S., and a mining venture that promised a novel application of A.I. Mary was not enthusiastic.
    E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Grange leaders are enthusiastic about contributing to the Cruise Nights’ fundraising efforts for the Ramona Senior Center, Carlson said.
    Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Freeing Prince Charming As an ardent feminist, Cavallo found writing Rebel Girls came so naturally to her that the entire book was written in four months.
    Ashleigh N. DeLuca, Parents, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The other nephew is still an ardent adherent to the cult and has gifted much of his substantial wealth to it.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Voracious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/voracious. Accessed 3 Apr. 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!