Definition of gluttonousnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word gluttonous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of gluttonous are rapacious, ravenous, and voracious. While all these words mean "excessively greedy," gluttonous applies to one who delights in eating or acquiring things especially beyond the point of necessity or satiety.

an admiral who was gluttonous for glory

Where would rapacious be a reasonable alternative to gluttonous?

The words rapacious and gluttonous can be used in similar contexts, but rapacious often suggests excessive and utterly selfish acquisitiveness or avarice.

rapacious developers indifferent to environmental concerns

When could ravenous be used to replace gluttonous?

While in some cases nearly identical to gluttonous, ravenous implies excessive hunger and suggests violent or grasping methods of dealing with food or with whatever satisfies an appetite.

a nation with a ravenous lust for territorial expansion

When is it sensible to use voracious instead of gluttonous?

The synonyms voracious and gluttonous are sometimes interchangeable, but voracious applies especially to habitual gorging with food or drink.

teenagers are often voracious eaters

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gluttonous That is troubling because these early black holes should have had to undergo at least 1 billion years of mergers and gluttonous feeding to reach supermassive status. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 22 July 2026 Odysseus and his men greedily devour a lavish meal prepared for them, only to discover their host is the witch Circe (played by Samantha Morton), who transforms the gluttonous sailors into pigs for abusing her hospitality. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 19 July 2026 The memory is where the data gets placed and served up to the processor, like a dinner platter holding a gluttonous giant’s feast. — Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 28 June 2026 Here, a gluttonous breakfast feast is served, followed by modern Thai fare for lunch and dinner. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gluttonous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gluttonous
Adjective
  • Her former research partner has absconded with her life’s work, presumably to put toward greedy human means of Manifest Destiny.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Digger follows greedy, careless Digger as his company inadvertently catalyzes a disaster with global repercussions—then, whoopsie, sets off another for good measure.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • After a rancher’s dog discovered a ferret colony in Wyoming, scientists rallied to save the species nearly undone by humans’ ravenous expansion.
    — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The Grampus went adrift, and its ravenous crew was never heard from again—until now.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Grabs a ketchup bottle and garnishes his face, before squirting mustard into his hateful, piggish eyes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The Pork Belly A breakfast diner that added piggish flair to Kuna’s dining scene is no more.
    — Michael Deeds January 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Gluttonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gluttonous. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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