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 Right now your cat is probably shredding your bedspread in a ravenous rage. Molly Aitken, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for ravenous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ravenous
Adjective
  • Each is still saying the other has unrealistic and greedy demands.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Marquee recruits in Ohio and North Carolina all but cleared the field, New Hampshire and Illinois seem settled, and the fact Democrats are looking with greedy ambition at Alaska shows how underwater the Republican brand is with voters.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • At Neuras Wine and Wildlife Estate, on the edge of the Namib Desert, grapes are grown under netting to keep off hungry baboons, meaning there’s plenty for us tipple-loving primates to enjoy.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Messi is still Messi at 38 years old, hungry as ever and eager to stay fit with the 2026 World Cup approaching this summer.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The voracious reader said that the best books, those that brought him happiness, were not the ones that ease our way in this strange and difficult world.
    Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Madrid are actually owned by 80,000 members who demand the highest standards — and are surrounded by a voracious local media who mercilessly criticise anyone who even temporarily falls short.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ravenous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ravenous. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.

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