Word a Day
rapacious
What does rapacious mean?
rapacious (adjective): given to taking by force or plundering; aggressively greedy.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pronounce rapacious?
/ɹəˈpeɪʃəs/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does rapacious come from?
Perhaps from rapacity + -ous, in any case ultimately from Latin rapāx (“grasping, greedy”) + -acious.
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “rapacious”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “rapacious” mean?
lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
Not quite: that's what inadequate means.
disgustingly dirty; filled or smeared with offensive matter
Not quite: that's what filthy means.
of little importance or influence or power; of minor status
Not quite: that's what insignificant means.
given to taking by force or plundering; aggressively greedy
Right! That's what “rapacious” means.
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