Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of gluttonous are rapacious, ravenous, and voracious. While all these words mean "excessively greedy," 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

Where would rapacious be a reasonable alternative to gluttonous?

The words rapacious and gluttonous can be used in similar contexts, but rapacious often suggests excessive and utterly selfish acquisitiveness or avarice.

rapacious developers indifferent to environmental concerns

When could ravenous be used to replace gluttonous?

While in some cases nearly identical to gluttonous, 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 is it sensible to use voracious instead of gluttonous?

The synonyms voracious and gluttonous are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 gluttonous Prices were higher, but so many people took advantage of the deal—and some to a gluttonous extreme—that earnings tumbled. Chris Morris, Fortune, 20 May 2024 His take on Quebec is even less enticing, confined largely to a government office where a gluttonous bureaucrat (Danielle Fichaud in drag) devours a tray of turkey and approves a character named Mathieu Rankin’s transfer back to Winnipeg. Peter Debruge, Variety, 18 May 2024 Instead, each selection is paired with something fresh and plant-based, allowing diners to indulge without feeling gluttonous. Vivienne Peters; Photos By Judy Revenaugh, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024 Occasionally this has its benefits, as in 1793, when lusting after a lovable rogue (Barnard) can take her mind off crawling around in subservience as the wife of a gluttonous aristocrat (Nick Frost). Stephen Saito, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gluttonous 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gluttonous
Adjective
  • In his testimony earlier this month, former House Speaker Michael Madigan cast himself as a champion of the working class, a consensus-builder who used his power to bring people together on legislation and protect constituents from greedy utilities and corporations.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Costco's greedy executives have less than two weeks to do the right thing.
    Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • That said, recent history suggests the most ravenous cap eaters do not inherently prevent an organization from remaining competitive.
    Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Like the ravenous guest at a buffet, the defense has gobbled up the fact that Buzbee appeared to backtrack a step or two on his client after that NBC News interview.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The merged generative AI model is bloated and runs extremely slowly, possibly so piggish that using it on everyday tasks is exasperating and imprudent due to enormous delays while processing.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
  • Surrounded by a dysfunctional family and a piggish boss (Stellan Skarsgård), Justine is lonely, exasperated, and seething.
    Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near gluttonous

Cite this Entry

“Gluttonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gluttonous. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on gluttonous

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!