Definition of voraciousnext

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of voracious are gluttonous, rapacious, and ravenous. While all these words mean "excessively greedy," voracious applies especially to habitual gorging with food or drink.

teenagers are often voracious eaters

When could gluttonous be used to replace voracious?

In some situations, the words gluttonous and voracious are roughly equivalent. 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 can rapacious be used instead of voracious?

While the synonyms rapacious and voracious are close in meaning, rapacious often suggests excessive and utterly selfish acquisitiveness or avarice.

rapacious developers indifferent to environmental concerns

When might ravenous be a better fit than voracious?

While in some cases nearly identical to voracious, 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

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 voracious With a breezy writing style that means her books are found on bedside tables as often as kitchen worktops, Roman turned a generation into voracious eaters and cooks with her viral cookie recipes, quick tips, and unpretentious, garlicky dishes. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2025 The veteran journalist is known for his voracious research into his subjects, often bringing gifts to coordinate with unexpected questions. Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025 Sandor was a voracious reader who regularly went to the theater and the movies (Montgomery Clift was a particular favorite), and that inspired her to create stories and fantasy worlds. Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025 Its business is at the center of the AI economy—providing computing power to meet the voracious demand of the likes of Microsoft and OpenAI. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for voracious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for voracious
Adjective
  • Carrey portrays Ebenezer Scrooge, a cantankerous, greedy old man visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him the error of his ways.
    Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
  • The turning point in this contest, though, came when the Chiefs decided to get greedy on fourth-and-1 from their own 31-yard line.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • An avid pool-player, Rogan has interviewed Gorst on his show twice, including this summer.
    Jeremy Herb, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Spooky season has come and gone, which means its time for some avid readers to begin making their winter reading lists.
    Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The problem with this concept is the fact that the region around ravenous black holes should emit strongly in the X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum, but that doesn't seem to be the case for little red dots or for BiRD.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Other photos in this series have odd and unsettling stories behind them, including the one that captured an apparently ravenous witch.
    Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Obama’s enthusiastic showings for both candidates was a test of whether his sway over the Democratic Party still remains after his support for Harris failed to boost her to the White House a year ago and angered black male voters who felt unfairly accused of sexism.
    Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Thornton did not respond to our request for comment on this story, but IndieWire found proof of public interactions Bolea had with the actor, positioning them as enthusiastic supporters of each other’s work at a time when love for Art the Clown was spreading quickly.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • So last Monday, after scrolling through news of the government shutdown and with nothing else planned for the day, the couple decided to fire up their Pit Boss pellet grill and feed anyone who was hungry, no questions asked.
    Sean Clancy, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Voter anger over the cost of living is hurtling forward into next year’s midterm elections, when pivotal contests will be decided by communities that are home to fast-rising electric bills or fights over who’s footing the bill to power Big Tech’s energy-hungry data centers.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • No pretending to be too cool to be excited, just vibing and living in the moment.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Now Lomax is excited for future opportunities to work with other brands.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The 23-year-old Shou, a lifelong Fremont resident, won out over hundreds of others eager to play 17-year-old Joe, a troubled San Gabriel Valley area high school student with schizophrenia whose distraught mom Irene (Liu, in a transformative performance) is dying of cancer.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Hosted by Variety’s Angelique Jackson and Marc Malkin, the pre-show will deliver exclusive access, must-see interviews and real-time coverage from the first spot on the carpet, serving as the ultimate destination for fans eager to experience the night unfold.
    William Earl, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Chad Ochocinco knew it all along Legendary receiver and NFL analyst Chad Ochocinco has been an ardent supporter for the Panthers back in the training camp days.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026
  • González was the Presidential candidate, but the real power is Machado, a conservative Catholic from a wealthy family who built a following as an ardent critic of the Maduro regime.
    Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Voracious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/voracious. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.

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