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rapacious
Use
Rapacious
in a sentence
ra·pa·cious
/
rəˈpeɪ
ʃəs
/
Show Spelled
[
r
uh
-
pey
-sh
uh
s
]
Show IPA
adjective
1.
given to seizing for plunder or the satisfaction of greed.
2.
inordinately greedy; predatory; extortionate:
a rapacious
disposition
.
3.
(of animals) subsisting by the capture of living prey; predacious.
Origin:
1645–55;
<
Latin
rapāci-
(stem of
rapāx
greedy, akin to
rapere
to seize; see
rape
1
) +
-ous
Related forms
ra·pa·cious·ly,
adverb
ra·pac·i·ty
/
rəˈpæs
ɪ
ti
/
Show Spelled
[
r
uh
-
pas
-i-tee
]
Show IPA
,
ra·pa·cious·ness,
noun
un·ra·pa·cious,
adjective
un·ra·pa·cious·ly,
adverb
un·ra·pa·cious·ness,
noun
Synonyms
2.
ravenous, voracious, grasping; preying. See
avaricious
.
Antonyms
2.
generous.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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rapacious
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00:10
Rapacious
is always a great word to know.
So is
bezoar
. Does it mean:
So is
ort
. Does it mean:
So is
lollapalooza
. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
rapacious
(rəˈpeɪʃəs)
—
adj
1.
practising pillage or rapine
2.
greedy or grasping
3.
(of animals, esp birds) subsisting by catching living prey
[C17: from Latin
rapāx
grasping, from
rapere
to seize]
ra'paciously
—
adv
rapacity
—
n
ra'paciousness
—
n
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
rapacious
1650s, from L. rapaci-, stem of rapax "grasping," from rapere (see
rapacity
) +
-ous
.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The errant polychaetes are generally
rapacious
, and free-living.
Many see him as a power-mad,
rapacious
right-wing vulgarian.
Insurance companies are
rapacious
and are not in the business of optimizing
care.
The oligarchs, as they were known, were
rapacious
sorts who jousted among
themselves for spoils.
Barbarians were in awe of the empire and
rapacious
foreigners had not yet begun hammering at the door.
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Matching Quote
"Fortunately for those who pay their court through such foibles, a fond mother, though, in pursuit of praise for her children, the most
rapacious
of human beings, is likewise the most credulous; her demands are exorbitant; but she will swallow any thing."
-Jane Austen
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Synonyms
avaricious
voracious
ferocious
ravenous
furious
greedy
savage
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