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Meaning & use

rapacious

adjective·Advancedformaldisapproving

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UK/rəˈpeɪʃəs/
US/rəˈpeɪʃəs/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparabledisapproving

    Wanting money or possessions so greedily that you will take them from others without concern.

    Grammar: Describes people, companies or rulers: a rapacious landlord, rapacious in his demands.

    Patterns

    • rapacious in something
    • a rapacious appetite for something

    The rapacious landlord raised rents every few months.

    Rapacious lenders trapped families in impossible debt.

    The empire's rapacious demands for tribute ruined its provinces.

  2. adjectivebefore a nountechnicalliterary

    Describing an animal that lives by seizing prey, such as a hawk or wolf.

    Grammar: Used mostly before nouns in older or scientific writing: a rapacious bird.

    Patterns

    • a rapacious bird

    The rapacious hawk circled over the field.

    Naturalists described the owl as a rapacious bird.

    A rapacious pack of wolves followed the herd through winter.

Word forms

comparativemore rapacious
superlativemost rapacious

Common combinations

rapacious appetite
The firm's rapacious appetite for profit upset its staff.
rapacious landlord
A rapacious landlord took advantage of the tenants.
rapacious greed
His rapacious greed knew no limit.
rapacious empire
The rapacious empire swallowed its neighbors.
rapacious lender
A rapacious lender charged ruinous interest.

Synonyms and how they differ

greedy
Greedy is the plain everyday word, whereas rapacious suggests forceful, predatory grabbing.
avaricious
Avaricious stresses an intense love of wealth, but rapacious includes the taking from others.
predatory
Predatory focuses on exploiting victims, and rapacious focuses on the hunger for gain.
grasping
Grasping is more informal and suggests stingy clinging to money rather than violent taking.

Opposites

generouscharitable

Word family

rapacity noun
the quality of being rapacious
rapaciously adverb
in a greedy, grabbing way
rapaciousness noun
another word for rapacity
raptor noun
a bird of prey

Commonly confused: rapacious or rapid?

rapacious vs rapid

Rapid means fast; rapacious means greedy and has no link to speed.

Practice

Residents accused the ___ developer of buying up homes cheaply and forcing families out.

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