Sample sentences for RAPACIOUS

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Definition

excessively greedy — often destructive

In zoology, rapacious describes an animal as living by preying on other animals — especially by catching living prey.

She is a rapacious land developer with no concern for the environment.

rapacious = excessively greedy — often destructive

Government regulation softens the rapacious tendencies of capitalism.
In his opening address at the Fourth General Conference of Latin American Bishops (CELAM), the pope said the sects were like "rapacious wolves" devouring Latin American Catholics and "causing division and discord in our communities."
Edward L. Cleary -- Commonweal, Nov 20, 1992 -- http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1252/is_n20_v119/ai_12911257 (retrieved 11/12/07)
It makes him hated above all things ... to be rapacious, and to be a violator of the property and women of his subjects,
Nicolo Machiavelli -- The Prince

rapacious = excessively greedy (often destructive)

Pound for pound, a velociraptor was the most rapacious dinosaur that ever lived.
Michael Crichton -- Jurassic Park

rapacious = living by preying on other animals — especially by catching living prey

Mr Venus's mouth screwed itself up, as Mr Boffin's face lengthened itself, Mr Venus not having been prepared for such a rapacious demand.
Dickens, Charles -- Our Mutual Friend
Do the very numerous spiders and rapacious Hymenoptera supply the place of the carnivorous beetles?
Darwin, Charles -- The Voyage of the Beagle
Sow the same seed of rapacious license and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the same fruit according to its kind.
Dickens, Charles -- A Tale Of Two Cities
Among the ladies who were most distinguished for this rapacious benevolence (if I may use the expression) was a Mrs.
Dickens, Charles -- Bleak House
a rapacious divorcee on the prowl
the rapacious wolf
Sow the same seed of rapacious license and oppression over again, and it will surely yield the same fruit according to its kind.
Charles Dickens -- A Tale of Two Cities
Those were not the considerations that drove this rapacious beast from his den into the open!
Richard Wright -- Native Son
He spotted eagles, hawks, and falcons, along with countless greedy crows and their larger, dagger-beaked, blue-backed, rapacious cousin, the raven.
Christopher Paolini -- Eldest
'Then,' said Traddles, 'you must prepare to disgorge all that your rapacity has become possessed of, and to make restoration to the last farthing.
Charles Dickens -- David Copperfield
I go to too much trouble in a world where success flows to those who rapaciously avoid trouble, but I can't help it.
Mark Helprin -- A Soldier of the Great War
He will get the credit of your rapacity in money matters, as he has hitherto had the credit of mine.
George Bernard Shaw -- Major Barbara
And again, the more rapacious this desire, the sooner it must eat up all the innocent sources of pleasure and pass on to those the Enemy forbids.
C.S. Lewis -- The Screwtape Letters
Even without a smuggler's rapacious markups, the stuff's more valuable than gold.
Henry H. Neff -- The Maelstrom
It is difficult to describe the rapacity with which the American rushes forward to secure the immense booty which fortune proffers to him.
Alexis de Toqueville -- Democracy In America, Volume 1

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