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rapacious

ra·pa·cious [ rə páyshəss ]

adjective

Definition:

1. grasping: greedy and grasping, especially for money, and sometimes willing to use unscrupulous means to obtain what is desired

2. destructive and vicious: engaging in violent pillaging and likely to harm or destroy things

3. zoology predatory: living by eating live prey

[Mid-17th century. < Latin rapac- "tearing, grasping" < rapere "seize"]

ra·pa·cious·ly adverb

ra·pa·cious·ness noun

ra·pa·ci·ty [ rə pássətee ] noun

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