predacious

[ pri-dey-shuhs ]

adjective

1. predatory; rapacious.

predacious

/ prɪˈdæsɪtɪ; prɪˈdeɪʃəs /

adjective

1. (of animals) habitually hunting and killing other animals for food
2. preying on others

Derived Forms

• preˈdaciousness, noun

Other Words From

• pre·dacious·ness pre·dac·i·ty [pri-, das, -i-tee]; especially Biology, pre·daceous·ness noun
• unpre·daceous adjective
• unpre·daceous·ly adverb
• unpre·daceous·ness noun
• unpre·dacious adjective
• unpre·dacious·ly adverb
• unpre·dacious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of predacious¹

First recorded in 1705–15; pred(atory) + -acious

Word History and Origins

Origin of predacious¹

C18: from Latin praeda plunder; compare predatory

Example Sentences

The sea-leopard, the only predacious member of the seal family, has an elongated agile body and a large head with massive jaws.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus was a graminivorous animal nurtured by a carnivorous and predacious one!

From Project Gutenberg

Those warlike and predacious Indians would not keep the peace, nor would they allow other people to do so.

From Project Gutenberg

Among animals, the Orthoceratites led a predacious life in the Silurian seas.

From Project Gutenberg

Bugs are all injurious to man, excepting such as are predacious, which are serviceable by destroying other insects.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• greedy
• marauding
• rapacious
• voracious