rapacious
/ɹəˈpeɪ.ʃəs/
Group 11Difficulty 3/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Aggressively greedy or grasping GRE
Example in Context
The rapacious logging industry stripped the hillsides bare, leaving the soil vulnerable to catastrophic erosion during the rainy season.
Synonyms
greedypredatorygrasping
Etymology
Seizing everything greedily.
- rapere (Latin) — to seize
Memory Aid
🦈Sounds like “rape-acious”
A shark that is RAPE-ACIOUS, stealing all the fish from the ocean like a greedy monster!
Visual Association
💰A cartoon shark wearing a top hat, swimming around with a treasure chest, hoarding all the jewels.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “rapacious” mean on the GRE?
rapacious (adjective) means “Aggressively greedy or grasping”. The rapacious logging industry stripped the hillsides bare, leaving the soil vulnerable to catastrophic erosion during the rainy season.
How to remember “rapacious” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “rapacious” sounds like “rape-acious”. A shark that is RAPE-ACIOUS, stealing all the fish from the ocean like a greedy monster!
What are synonyms for “rapacious”?
Common synonyms: greedy, predatory, grasping.