Definition of ravenousnext

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of ravenous are gluttonous, rapacious, and voracious. While all these words mean "excessively greedy," 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

In what contexts can gluttonous take the place of ravenous?

The meanings of gluttonous and ravenous largely overlap; however, 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

When might rapacious be a better fit than ravenous?

The words rapacious and ravenous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rapacious often suggests excessive and utterly selfish acquisitiveness or avarice.

rapacious developers indifferent to environmental concerns

When can voracious be used instead of ravenous?

The words voracious and ravenous can be used in similar contexts, 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 ravenous Luckily, golf courses across the globe understand the need to satiate ravenous players with unique meals. Katie Sweeney, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026 Data centers are resource-ravenous; even a midsize data center may consume as much water as a small town, while larger ones may use up to 5 million gallons of water every day — as much as a city of 50,000 people, according to the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026 While some online scolds didn’t like Johnson’s profanity, this has played well in Chicago, a city that has been ravenous for a winning Bears team since the 20th Super Bowl. Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026 The bit began with two UFC fighters who emerged to serve as their personal bodyguards against any ravenous super-fans. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ravenous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ravenous
Adjective
  • That requires that the drug companies be less greedy in squeezing the state’s Medicaid program.
    Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Unfortunately, buying a legitimate one to replace what’s been stolen can cost five, 10, or even 20 times that if your dealer’s service department is especially greedy, which is a big part of the problem here.
    Adam Ismail, The Drive, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • In the simplest case, an unexpected reward (say, discovering some tasty fruit when hungry, or having someone attractive declare their love for you) causes a burst of dopamine release into a part of the basal ganglia known as the striatum—specifically, the nucleus accumbens.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Because many meals are calorie-controlled, some people may need to add snacks or sides to feel fully satisfied, since meals that are too low in calories or protein may leave you hungry.
    Rita Templeton, Flow Space, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • With a limited supply and a voracious demand, the Super Bowl functions more like a luxury good, and the forces keeping it that way are unlikely to change anytime soon.
    Julian Torres, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The turtle, now named Porkchop for her voracious appetite, is now happily recovering at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach.
    Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ravenous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ravenous. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on ravenous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!