RAVENOUS Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

ravenous

adjective

ˈra-və-nəs

Definition of ravenous next

as in greedy

having a huge appetite we were ravenous after our canoe paddling, and the chili bubbling over the campfire smelled heavenly

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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

Examples 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 Zoom in: On the mile-long walk through the dark, wooded grounds, visitors can expect to encounter ravenous zombies, creepy clowns, a crazed man with a chainsaw and other haunts lurking in the shadows of rusty rides. —

Kate Murphy, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024 Wednesday’s findings are the fire department's most complete picture of what unfolded on Aug. 8, 2023, when a ravenous fire spread from the hills above Lahaina, once the capital of Hawaii, and devoured nearly everything in its path. —

Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 2 Oct. 2024 Florida’s Lionfish Problem Lionfish are ravenous, invasive, predatory fish that have taken up residence in the waters around the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast, feeding on grouper, snapper, and other gamefish species in the area. —

Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 18 Sep. 2024 The aliens are already here, mostly in disguise and mostly friendly (except the ravenous 600-foot worm who inhabits the New York subway system). —

Danny Horn, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ravenous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ravenous

Adjective

His skin, a greedy shade of brown, seems to eat up all the light.

Essence, Essence, 5 Nov. 2024
Like Kato and Sunja’s margarita date last week, this is another small moment that moves as much, if not more, than any of the larger emotional gestures in the show — some pleasures are immune to misery’s greedy hands.

Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2024