predacious

[ pri-dey-shuhs ]

adjective

1. predatory; rapacious.

predacious

/ prɪˈdeɪʃəs; prɪˈdæsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. (of animals) habitually hunting and killing other animals for food
2. preying on others

Derived Forms

• preˈdaciousness, noun

Other Words From

• pre·dacious·ness pre·dac·i·ty [pri-, das, -i-tee]; especially Biology, pre·daceous·ness noun
• unpre·daceous adjective
• unpre·daceous·ly adverb
• unpre·daceous·ness noun
• unpre·dacious adjective
• unpre·dacious·ly adverb
• unpre·dacious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of predacious¹

First recorded in 1705–15; pred(atory) + -acious

Word History and Origins

Origin of predacious¹

C18: from Latin praeda plunder; compare predatory

Example Sentences

She’s predacious, conflicted, at times disorganized — and ultimately unknowable.

From Washington Post

It quoted from the letter, in which staff members complained to Adidas about "the toxic and chaotic environment that Kanye West created" and "a very sick pattern of predacious behaviour toward women" who worked for him under the partnership.

From BBC

The picture tells the story of a young woman, Danae, who’s been locked in a high tower by her father to keep her away from predacious men.

From New York Times

Nonetheless, Emmy, with her beauty, talent and wit, could ignore her predecessor as she enjoyed the incredible riches bestowed on her by her predacious husband: several estates, castles, lavish jewels, and most notably an astonishing art collection accumulated from the Reich’s various conquests and from Jewish collectors who were sent to the camps.

From Washington Post

She feels shut out by the city’s predacious, moneyed tribes, battered by its “impenetrable shapes” and “fierce elbows.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• greedy
• marauding
• rapacious
• voracious