Rapaciousness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /rə-ˈpā-shəs/ ra·pa·cious

Meaning & Definition of Rapaciousness

Rapaciousness (adjective)

  1. excessively grasping or covetous
  2. living on prey
  3. ravenous

Rapaciousness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions

    "the land developer's rapaciousness knew no bounds, and if what she wanted wasn't for sale, she would force the owner into selling it"

    similar: acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, avidness, covetousness, cupidity, graspingness, greed, greediness, mercenariness, rapacity
    related: commercialism, materialism, possessiveness, gluttonousness, gluttony, piggishness, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, longing, lust, passion, pining, ravenousness, thirst, voracity, yearning, yen, egoism, egotism, self-centeredness, self-interest, selfishness, self-regard
    near: contentment, fulfillment, gratification, satisfaction, bounteousness, bountifulness, bounty, charity, generosity, generousness, largesse, liberality, magnanimity, openhandedness, openheartedness, unselfishness, altruism, selflessness

Related Entry: Rapacious (adjective)

Rapacious is a different word from Rapaciousness. The synonyms below are for rapacious, not for rapaciousness.

  1. having a huge appetite

    "nothing livens things up like a whole team of rapacious basketball players descending upon the pizza parlor"

    similar: edacious, esurient, gluttonous, greedy, hoggish, piggish, ravenous, swinish, voracious
    related: hearty, wolfish, devouring, gobbling, gorging, gormandizing, gulping, insatiable, unquenchable, unslakable, empty, famished, hungry, peckish (chiefly British), starved, starving, malnourished, underfed, undernourished
    near: content, full, glutted, sated, satiated, satisfied, stuffed

  2. living by killing and eating other animals

    "rapacious mammals, such as coyotes, foxes, and bobcats"

    similar: predaceous, predatory, raptorial
    related: carnivorous, aggressive, deadly, ferocious, fierce, savage, violent, untamed, wild
    near: herbivorous, vegetarian, gentle, submissive, tame

  3. having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions

    "rapacious plunderers who despoiled the tombs in the ancient pyramids"

    similar: acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, grabby, grasping, greedy, mercenary, moneygrubbing
    related: commercialistic, materialistic, philistine, desirous, eager, itchy, lickerish, miserly, hoggish, piggish, piggy, swinish, devouring, gluttonous, gobbling, insatiable, ravenous, unquenchable, voracious, egocentric, egoistic, egotistic, self-centered, self-seeking, discontent, discontented, malcontent, unsatisfied, begrudging, grudging, resentful
    near: nonmaterialistic, altruistic, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, greathearted, handsome, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, selfless, unselfish, unsparing, controlled, moderate, restrained, temperate, content, sated, satisfied

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Rapaciousness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Rapaciousness:

acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, avidness, covetousness, cupidity, graspingness, greed, greediness, mercenariness, rapacity

Related Words for Rapaciousness

commercialism, materialism, possessiveness, gluttonousness, gluttony, piggishness, appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, longing, lust, passion, pining, ravenousness, thirst, voracity, yearning, yen, egoism, egotism, self-centeredness, self-interest, selfishness, self-regard

Near Antonyms of Rapaciousness

contentment, fulfillment, gratification, satisfaction, bounteousness, bountifulness, bounty, charity, generosity, generousness, largesse, liberality, magnanimity, openhandedness, openheartedness, unselfishness, altruism, selflessness

Word Forms of Rapaciousness

Derived words: rapaciously (adverb), rapaciousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Rapaciousness

Latin rapāc-, rapāx "given to seizing or catching things (as prey), carrying away, excessively grasping" (from rapere "to seize and carry off" + -āc-, -āx, deverbal suffix denoting habitual or successful performance) + -ious rapid:1, audacious

First known use: 1651

Frequently Asked Questions about Rapaciousness

What does "Rapaciousness" mean?

"Rapaciousness" means excessively grasping or covetous. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: excessively grasping or covetous.

What is another word for "Rapaciousness"?

Other words for "Rapaciousness" include acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, avidness, covetousness, cupidity and graspingness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Rapaciousness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Rapaciousness"?

There are 40 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Rapaciousness". Common alternatives include acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, avidness, covetousness, cupidity, graspingness, greed and greediness.

How do you use "Rapaciousness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Rapaciousness" in a sentence: "the land developer's rapaciousness knew no bounds, and if what she wanted wasn't for sale, she would force the owner into selling it".

Is "Rapaciousness" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Rapaciousness" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Rapaciousness"?

"Rapaciousness" is pronounced /rə-ˈpā-shəs/ and divided into syllables as ra·pa·cious.

What is the origin of the word "Rapaciousness"?

"Rapaciousness" comes from Latin rapāc-, rapāx "given to seizing or catching things (as prey), carrying away, excessively grasping" (from rapere "to seize and carry off" + -āc-, -āx, deverbal suffix denoting habitual or successful performance) + -ious rapid:1, audacious. First known use: 1651.

What is another word for "Rapaciousness" meaning "an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions"?

When "Rapaciousness" (noun) means an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions, synonyms include acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, avidness and covetousness.