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 Through it all, new industries and technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing continue to expand, with a voracious appetite for electrical power, computing power, and space to build. Scott Cohn, CNBC, 11 June 2025 After years of lobbying from various fishing interests who maintain the species not only made a comeback, but were wiping out other species because of their voracious appetites, the FWC agreed in 2022 to open a very limited goliath grouper season. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 10 June 2025 The voracious pachyderm finally backed out of the store, a bag of snacks still clasped in his trunk. Chelsea Chan, NBC news, 5 June 2025 This year’s testing comes amid an increase in an invasive mosquito that is known for its voracious appetite and rapid spread that has alarmed state entomologists. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for voracious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for voracious
Adjective
  • But the vast majority are cynical and greedy and scared of losing their jobs.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 July 2025
  • A far cry from the mild-mannered Peter Parker in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films, Tully is an abusive, hot-headed, and greedy slime ball who leverages post-war desperation into a thriving criminal business.
    Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • As avid travelers know, Away luggage recently became available at Amazon, and now, the rarely-ever-on-sale brand is sporting some big markdowns in honor of Prime Day.
    Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
  • Both West and Fuentes were avid supporters of Trump who repeatedly had made antisemitic remarks.
    Josh Meyer, USA Today, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • Weatherspoon brings a sweetness to each page that slowly builds to a sensual climax, leaving you ravenous for more.
    Ashley Poston, New York Times, 21 May 2025
  • Fans became so ravenous that multiple guests drove hours for a taste, sometimes visiting from other states, only to find no physical space for dining.
    Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • The fans who showed up at the Intuit Dome were enthusiastic enough, especially when the in-game host fired them up, but the matchups between geographic neighbors Palm Beach and Miami, and L.A. and San Diego, don’t exactly scream rivalry.
    Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 13 July 2025
  • Peggy meets a handsome doctor from Newport whose family is less than enthusiastic about her career.
    Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • Wall Street is hungry for the Snack Wrap: The return of the popular McDonald’s menu item has fueled a stock market surge for the fast food chain.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • At the time, Alexx was an independent creative hungry to make his mark, while Weezy was a rising voice in podcasting still figuring out her next steps.
    Essence, Essence, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Why some tattoo artists push back against AI tattoo machines Of course, not everyone is excited about this change.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025
  • The actress, 32, spoke with PEOPLE on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of her new film Smurfs and shared that her kids — son Kingston, 4, and daughter Jackson, 2 — are going to be very excited to see their mom on the big screen.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Comprised mostly of phishing, but also malware, threats, the domains in question have been created by cybercriminals seeking to benefit from the high media profile of Prime Day and the anticipated flood of consumers eager to grab a bargain.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Undeterred, Gustav offers the role, written for Nora, to the young Hollywood star Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning), dropping the eager American actress right in the middle of the complicated Borg family dynamics.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Some of the president's most ardent supporters were in uproar.
    Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 12 July 2025
  • The audience is on board before the show even starts This show attracts ardent followers.
    Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Voracious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/voracious. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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