First Known Use: 1651
Dictionary
rapacious
adjective ra·pa·cious \rə-ˈpā-shəs\
: always wanting more money, possessions, etc. : wanting more than is needed or deserved
Full Definition of RAPACIOUS
1
: excessively grasping or covetous
2
: living on prey
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Origin of RAPACIOUS
Latin rapac-, rapax, from rapere to seize — more at rapid
Related to RAPACIOUS
Synonym Discussion of RAPACIOUS
voracious, gluttonous, ravenous, rapacious mean excessively greedy. voracious applies especially to habitual gorging with food or drink <teenagers are often voracious eaters>. 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>. 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>. rapacious often suggests excessive and utterly selfish acquisitiveness or avarice <rapacious developers indifferent to environmental concerns>.
Rhymes with RAPACIOUS
audacious, bodacious, capacious, cetaceous, crustaceous, curvaceous, drupaceous, edacious, fallacious, flirtatious, fugacious, hellacious, herbaceous, loquacious, mendacious, micaceous, pomaceous, predaceous, pugnacious, rosaceous, sagacious, salacious, sebaceous, sequacious, setaceous, tenacious, testaceous, tufaceous, ungracious, veracious, vinaceous, voracious
RAPACIOUSNESS Defined for Kids
rapacious
adjective ra·pa·cious \rə-ˈpā-shəs\
Definition of RAPACIOUS for Kids
1
: very greedy
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