vulture

noun

vul·​ture ˈvəl-chər 

1

: any of various large birds (families Accipitridae and Cathartidae) that are related to the hawks, eagles, and falcons but have weaker claws and the head usually naked and that subsist chiefly or entirely on carrion

2

: a rapacious or predatory person

vulturish

ˈvəl-chə-rish 

adjective

Synonyms

• bloodsucker
• buzzard
• harpy
• kite
• predator
• shark
• vampire
• wolf

Examples of vulture in a Sentence

As soon as they learned of his arrest, the media vultures started circling.

noted that the paparazzi are vultures who could not exist without the connivance of the tabloid-buying public

Recent Examples on the Web

Intelligencer The Cut Vulture The Strategist Curbed Grub Street vulture games Updated 5:00 A.M. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025

Turkey vultures follow the weather to find food, migrating with the changing seasons The USA Today Network published a series of stories in August about the effects of climate change on birds. —Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 30 Dec. 2024

Then, Syria will need, well, everything — the rebuilding of schools, roads, and hospitals; a functioning government; the means by which to welcome back millions of refugees; protection from vulture groups looking to exploit the new vacuum. —S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 10 Dec. 2024

Intelligencer The Cut Vulture The Strategist Curbed Grub Street vulture games Dec. 8, 2024 By Britina Cheng, Vulture’s Cinematrix producer A new Cinematrix drops every morning. —Britina Cheng, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vultur, from Anglo-French, from Latin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vulture

• bearded vulture
• turkey vulture
• vulture capitalism

Kids Definition

vulture

noun

vul·​ture ˈvəl-chər 

1

: any of various large birds that feed mostly on animals found dead and that are related to the hawks and eagles but have weaker claws and the head usually naked

2

: a greedy or predatory person