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 mercenary
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rapacious
The post-victory locker room video has become a centerpiece of this surprisingly uplifting Chicago Bears season, giving a rapacious fan base a glimpse behind the curtain.
—
Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
His reconstruction drive intends to normalize this political reality and the pursuit of unrestrained, rapacious fossil fuel extractivism when climate change is intensifying.
—Nabil Salih, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
Back in the 1990s, Republicans put a muzzle on the most rapacious lawyers and passed laws to protect businesses from the most outrageous harassment lawsuits.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
But what if their rapacious appetites had an unexpected side effect?
—Rebecca Boyle, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rapacious
Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
His reconstruction drive intends to normalize this political reality and the pursuit of unrestrained, rapacious fossil fuel extractivism when climate change is intensifying.
—Nabil Salih, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
Back in the 1990s, Republicans put a muzzle on the most rapacious lawyers and passed laws to protect businesses from the most outrageous harassment lawsuits.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 1 Dec. 2025
But what if their rapacious appetites had an unexpected side effect?
—Rebecca Boyle, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rapacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapacious
Adjective
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Unfortunately, buying a legitimate one to replace what’s been stolen can cost five, 10, or even 20 times that if your dealer’s service department is especially greedy, which is a big part of the problem here.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
5 Feb. 2026
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Their false claims about getting financially fleeced by Uncle Sam were fueled by a rather sophisticated, albeit deceitful and shameful lobbying campaign, sponsored by greedy gadflies out to make a quick buck.—
Tom Margenau,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Skuas, large predatory birds from the North Atlantic, have been referred to as seahawks as well.—
Jenna Ahart,
Scientific American,
6 Feb. 2026
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This predatory dynamic leaves consumers powerless and leads to market failure.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Alekseyev, 64, played a prominent role during the mutiny by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in the summer of 2023.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
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In 2023, Alekseyev was sent by the Russian military to negotiate with Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner private mercenary group, during the Wagner group’s mutiny.—
CNN's Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Close-up Photographer of the Year announces 2025 winner A trippy image of a coral, a huge swarm of mayflies and a ravenous spider were among the winners of the Close-up Photographer of the Year award.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Right now your cat is probably shredding your bedspread in a ravenous rage.—
Molly Aitken,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Harlan has an avaricious family, each member of which has something to gain from his death.—
Anna Russell,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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What Netanyahu wants is not this peace deal or avaricious annexations, but to stay in power.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Thousands of fans huddled against the cold during one election rally in Tokyo last week, all eager for a glimpse of Takaichi.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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This is one of the Tex-Mex restaurants that has welcomed celebrities eager to try traditional Texas dishes.—
Imelda García,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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L’Oréal, which was highly acquisitive in 2025, with deals to purchase Kering Beauty, Medik8 and ColorWow, as well as an additional 10 percent stake in Galderma, among other transactions, no doubt will continue enriching its portfolio in the new year.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
6 Jan. 2026
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Paramount Skydance completed its merger last year, and since then CEO David Ellison has been acquisitive.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rapacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapacious. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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