rapacious

[ ruh-pey-shuhs ]

adjective

1. given to seizing for plunder or the satisfaction of greed.
2. inordinately greedy; predatory; extortionate:

   a rapacious disposition.

   Synonyms: grasping, voracious, ravenous

   Antonyms: generous

3. (of animals) subsisting by the capture of living prey; predacious.

rapacious

/ rəˈpæsɪtɪ; rəˈpeɪʃəs /

adjective

1. practising pillage or rapine
2. greedy or grasping
3. (of animals, esp birds) subsisting by catching living prey

Derived Forms

• rapacity, noun
• raˈpaciously, adverb

Other Words From

• ra·pa·cious·ly adverb
• ra·pac·i·ty [r, uh, -, pas, -i-tee], ra·pa·cious·ness noun
• un·ra·pa·cious adjective
• un·ra·pa·cious·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rapacious¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin rapāci- (stem of rapāx “greedy,” akin to rapere “to seize”; rape ¹ ) + -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of rapacious¹

C17: from Latin rapāx grasping, from rapere to seize

Synonym Study

See avaricious.

Example Sentences

He added: "They're rapacious, and the damage that's being caused is quite astonishing really."

From BBC

It will mean the swarthy, rapacious, thieving, murderous, pedophilic, drug-addled, job-stealing filth of the planet will be kept out of their all-good, virtuous and White Christian nation.

From Salon

However, this hasn’t stopped rapacious real estate interests from pursuing indiscriminate development which poses a threat to wetlands.

From Salon

While the benefits and risks of AI continue to be debated, one thing is clear: The technology is rapacious for power.

From Los Angeles Times

Recognizing that he had no choice but to deal with the Democratic-controlled Senate and President Biden, Johnson helped pass overdue government funding last month and, in recent days, green-lighted votes reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and — finally! — approving aid to Ukraine to help it defend itself and the rest of Europe from a rapacious Russia.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ferocious
• greedy
• marauding
• predatory
• ravenous
• voracious