rapacity

[ ruh-pas-i-tee ]

noun

1. the quality of being rapacious, or given to seizing things for plunder:

   That the monastery was raided six times, and burned 26 times in between, shows the rapacity of the Vikings.

2. extreme greediness; predatory quality or character:

   People blamed the higher prices on the rapacity of businesses.

3. (of animals) the fact or characteristic of subsisting by the capture of living prey:

   The early settlers of America suffered from the severity of the climate and the rapacity of wolves.

Other Words From

• un·ra·pa·cious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rapacity¹

First recorded in 1490–1500, from Latin rapācitās, equivalent to rapāci- (stem of rapāx “greedy”; rapacious ( def ) ) + -tās -ty ²( def )

Example Sentences

Nor has there ever been a time when the link between our rapacity and our present misery has felt as clear.

From New York Times

But we had no illusion that Ricca, et al., would actually restrain their rapacity.

From Washington Times

In the first, we find capitalism unbound, in all its rapacity.

From Washington Post

In the speech, Barr described a political philosophy driven by the need to counter an “individual rapacity” in humans that quickly produces “licentiousness” and the destruction of “healthy community life” if not restrained.

From The Guardian

They also testify to a particular seam of human history, one of resource extraction, rapacity and systematic abuse.

From New York Times