Standard Lemma guide

rapaciousness

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The state of being rapacious; extreme gluttony.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • 2015, Elizabeth Royte, Vultures Are Revolting. Here’s Why We Need to Save Them., National Geographic (December 2015)https://web.archive.org/web/20151213095110/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2016/01/vultures-text THE VULTURE MAY be the most maligned bird on the planet, a living metaphor for greed and rapaciousness.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: rapacity, avarice, covetise, covetousness, cupidity, gluttony, greed, greediness, Mammon, rapaciousness, ravin, voracity

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

an excessive desire for wealth (usually in large amounts)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the greediness of lawyers

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: greediness, voraciousness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: selfishness

3

noun

Meaning 3

extreme gluttony

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: edacity, esurience, rapacity, voracity, voraciousness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: gluttony

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English rapacious Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English rapaciousness From rapacious + -ness.