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

Examples of ravenous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Wednesday’s findings are the fire department's most complete picture of what unfolded on Aug. 8, 2023, when a ravenous fire spread from the hills above Lahaina, once the capital of Hawaii, and devoured nearly everything in its path. Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 2 Oct. 2024 Florida’s Lionfish Problem Lionfish are ravenous, invasive, predatory fish that have taken up residence in the waters around the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast, feeding on grouper, snapper, and other gamefish species in the area. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 18 Sep. 2024 The aliens are already here, mostly in disguise and mostly friendly (except the ravenous 600-foot worm who inhabits the New York subway system). Danny Horn, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2024 We were also treated to a bonus featurette introducing a host of creatures: Barrow-wights, Hill-trolls, and Sea-worms, as well as Orcs, Ents, and the youthful version of the ravenous giant spider Shelob. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ravenous 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ravenous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near ravenous

Cite this Entry

“Ravenous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ravenous. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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!