Meaning & use
rapacious def
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
A request for the meaning of the adjective 'rapacious', which describes extreme greed or a desire to take things.
Grammar: Used as a search query, not as a grammatical unit in a sentence.
Patterns
- look up rapacious def
I typed 'rapacious def' into the search bar to check the word.
The website explains 'rapacious def' with examples.
adjectivecomparableformaldisapproving
Very greedy, especially in taking money, resources, or property from others.
Grammar: Can be used before a noun (a rapacious landlord) or after a linking verb (the company was rapacious).
Patterns
- rapacious greed
- a rapacious appetite for something
The rapacious landlord raised rents every month.
The company's rapacious appetite for profit harmed the environment.
Critics called the invaders rapacious and cruel.
adjectivecomparabletechnicalbiology
In biology, describing an animal that seizes and eats other animals; predatory.
Grammar: Technical use; usually before a noun (rapacious birds).
Patterns
- rapacious birds
- rapacious predators
Eagles are rapacious birds that hunt small mammals.
The rapacious species feeds on fish and frogs.
Word forms
| comparative | more rapacious |
|---|---|
| superlative | most rapacious |
Common combinations
- rapacious greed
- The novel shows the rapacious greed of the ruling class.
- rapacious appetite
- The business has a rapacious appetite for new markets.
- rapacious landlord
- Tenants complained about the rapacious landlord.
- rapacious behavior
- Their rapacious behavior destroyed the local economy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- greedy
- Greedy is the everyday word; rapacious is stronger and more formal, suggesting taking by force or without shame.
- predatory
- Predatory can be used for animals and people who exploit others; rapacious often emphasizes extreme greed.
Opposites
Word family
- rapacity noun
- The quality of being rapacious; extreme greed.
- rapaciously adverb
- In a rapacious manner; greedily.
Commonly confused: rapacious def or rambunctious?
rapacious def vs rambunctious
Rambunctious means noisy and full of energy; rapacious means greedy and grasping.
Practice
The ___ company took over every small business in the town.
Choose one answer.
'Rapacious' fits because it describes extreme greed. 'Rambunctious' is about noisy energy, 'rapturous' is about delight, and 'rebellious' is about resisting control.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rapacious def”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.