barracuda

bar·ra·cu·da

noun \ˌber-ə-ˈkü-də, ˌba-rə-\

plural bar·ra·cu·da or bar·ra·cu·das

Definition of BARRACUDA

1

: any of a genus (Sphyraena of the family Sphyraenidae) of elongate predaceous often large bony fishes of warm seas that includes food and sport fishes as well as some forms frequently causing ciguatera poisoning

2

: one that uses aggressive, selfish, and sometimes unethical methods to obtain a goal especially in business

Examples of BARRACUDA

1. The company's lawyers are a bunch of barracudas.
2. <the governor-elect is too nice and easygoing, so he'll need a barracuda as his chief of staff>

Origin of BARRACUDA

American Spanish

First Known Use: 1678

Related to BARRACUDA

Synonyms

pit bull, fire-breather, fire-eater, tiger

Antonyms

milquetoast

Related Words

attack dog, hatchet man; aggressor, bully, shark; go-getter, hustler, live wire, self-starter; battler, fighter, scrapper; diehard, militant

Near Antonyms

pushover, pussycat, reed, softy (or softie), weakling, wimp

Rhymes with BARRACUDA

Buxtehude

barracuda

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Barracuda (Sphyraena)—C. Leroy French/Tom Stack & Associates

Any of about 20 species of predaceous marine fishes (family Sphyraenidae) found in all warm and tropical regions and in some more temperate areas. Swift and powerful, barracudas are slender and have small scales, a jutting lower jaw, and a large mouth with many large, sharp teeth. They vary in size from relatively small to 4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m) long. They are primarily fish eaters. They are popular sport fishes and are caught for food, though in certain seas they may become contaminated with a toxic substance. Bold and inquisitive, they are potentially dangerous to humans when large.