1
as in greedy
having a huge appetite
nothing livens things up like a whole team of rapacious basketball players descending upon the pizza parlor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in predatory
living by killing and eating other animals
rapacious mammals, such as coyotes, foxes, and bobcats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in mercenary
having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions
rapacious plunderers who despoiled the tombs in the ancient pyramids
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rapacious
But then there is the rapacious Bavarian and national media, for whom negativity about Bayern is big business, and a dressing room always loaded with forthright personalities and egos.
—
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Carville’s theory was and remains controversial—his critics point to the lasting damage Trump has inflicted everywhere since his rapacious return to office while the Democrats have looked on haplessly.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Under his leadership, the paper led a long and ultimately successful fight to end the rapacious practice of hydraulic mining that literally destroyed mountains and ruined Central Valley watersheds.
—Seán McMahon, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Heaving on the shore after nearly being taken under the rapacious waves, Byrne is released from a moribund procession of sound and light.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rapacious
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Carville’s theory was and remains controversial—his critics point to the lasting damage Trump has inflicted everywhere since his rapacious return to office while the Democrats have looked on haplessly.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Under his leadership, the paper led a long and ultimately successful fight to end the rapacious practice of hydraulic mining that literally destroyed mountains and ruined Central Valley watersheds.
—Seán McMahon, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Heaving on the shore after nearly being taken under the rapacious waves, Byrne is released from a moribund procession of sound and light.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rapacious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapacious
Adjective
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That disloyal, greedy kid at the center of college football’s first apparent holdout?—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
That's the part worth hammering, not that Nike is greedy or calculating.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Rather than focusing on the conspiracy theories Jones espoused, the new InfoWars will build its comedic base off a spoof of the old site’s predatory snake oil rackets.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
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The fragrant flowers attract pollinating bees and predatory insects that suppress pests in the vegetable garden.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Following coups in all three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance instead.—
Molly Quell,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
His litany of urgently treacly smashes was the soundtrack of that era, both a master class in minimal form that updated the mercenary structures of the Brill Building and Frank Sinatra, and also a cool and controlled reimagining of the sensual soul music of the late ’60s through the mid-70s.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In the beginning was a ravenous pink elephant laying claim to its mother’s life and body.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The storm has brought with it a school of bull sharks, who are smaller and faster than great whites, but just as ravenous.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Played by a Colman Domingo who is done up to look the most wax figurine of them all in a shellacking of makeup, prosthetics, and colored contacts, Joe is always either giving an avaricious open-mouthed leer or a cold-eyed glare.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
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There’s a quasi-heist theme to The Christophers, which revolves around an acclaimed artist (McKellen), who has long since stopped making new work, and his avaricious children (Gunning and Corden) who try to enlist Coel to complete some of their dad’s unfinished paintings.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Trump had used the act to plaster taxes on imports with eager abandon.—
Paul Wiseman,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Kay isn’t some kind of unhinged chaos agent or emotional thrill-seeker (well, maybe just a little), but rather an adventurous artist eager to dig deep beneath the surface.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Looking back on his 27 years with the bank, Gentry said the timing, loopholes, tax strategies and negotiations that gave the business its acquisitive edge were not because of dumb luck.—
Chase Jordan
April 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
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Moreover, the streamers that have taken a more acquisitive approach to live sports content are highly selective.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rapacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapacious. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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