rapacious

adjective

rə-ˈpā-shəs How to pronounce rapacious (audio)
Definition of rapaciousnext
1
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in predatory
living by killing and eating other animals rapacious mammals, such as coyotes, foxes, and bobcats

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in avaricious
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 Young women being preyed upon and seduced by rapacious Hollywood producers, stars and studio heads is a tired cliché, but like all clichés, it is based on reality. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026 Is no one else bothered by the rapacious greed? — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026 Those orcas were well within their rights to take their revenge, carrying out Mother Nature’s punishment against humanity for its rapacious depravity. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026 Based on a viral short film, the movie features Martin Freeman and Susie Porter as a couple who have commandeered a houseboat to evade hordes of rapacious undead. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for rapacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapacious
  1. greedy
  2. predatory
  3. avaricious
  4. ravenous
  5. mercenary
  6. acquisitive
  7. eager
Adjective
  • However, greedy jobs are mostly characterized by the unpredictability of when individuals are required to work.
    — Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Through its own websites, the mysterious group has been portraying itself as vigilantes out to rein in greedy video game developers.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of greedy
Adjective
  • The predatory marsupial, known scientifically as the thylacine, was driven to extinction by excessive hunting, habit loss and the encroachment of invasive species.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • If his plea is accepted, court documents say Wetzel will be put on probation for five years and will be added to the predatory offender registry for 10 years.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of predatory
Adjective
  • Played by a Colman Domingo who is done up to look the most wax figurine of them all in a shellacking of makeup, prosthetics, and colored contacts, Joe is always either giving an avaricious open-mouthed leer or a cold-eyed glare.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
  • There’s a quasi-heist theme to The Christophers, which revolves around an acclaimed artist (McKellen), who has long since stopped making new work, and his avaricious children (Gunning and Corden) who try to enlist Coel to complete some of their dad’s unfinished paintings.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026
Definition of avaricious
Adjective
  • The scenes were ravenous, and the pressure to play well, regardless of any physical or mental condition, is immense.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2026
  • This franchise has proven the ability to spin anything — to keep ravenous fans on the line under any circumstance.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 6 July 2026
Definition of ravenous
Adjective
  • However, the calculation changes if Apple sends you a mercenary spyware notification.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Lee joins after inking a deal to star in Tygo, a Korean-language entry in the franchise centered on his former child soldier turned mercenary, which is in post-production.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of mercenary
Adjective
  • But for an acquisitive current occupant of the White House, the oldest continuously active musical organization hasn’t seemed enough.
    — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • All this acquisitive activity has turned the majority of physicians into employees rather than independent operators.
    — Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Definition of acquisitive
Adjective
  • Time will tell how immediate Kroenke’s impact will be, though the Angels are eager to find out.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • But lawmakers of both parties are eager to avoid another impasse and would prefer to get back to their districts to campaign before the election.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of eager

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Cite this Entry

“Rapacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapacious. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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