RAPACIOUS Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

rapacious

adjective

rə-ˈpā-shəs

Definition of rapacious next

as in greedy

having a huge appetite nothing livens things up like a whole team of rapacious basketball players descending upon the pizza parlor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in predatory

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in mercenary

having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions rapacious plunderers who despoiled the tombs in the ancient pyramids

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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 Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, has argued that the war with Ukraine is really a war with a rapacious NATO out to destroy Russia. —

Maria Snegovaya, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024 That marks him as a potential savior of Rome, the one man who might free the empire from the rapacious appetites of the twin emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and the rich Macrinus (Denzel Washington). —

Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 22 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rapacious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapacious

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
His heroes are often murderous vigilantes doling out death sentences to greedy politicians, officials and businessmen.

— Anupama Chopra, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Jan. 2025