rapacity
Americannoun
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the quality of being rapacious, or given to seizing things for plunder.
That the monastery was raided six times, and burned 26 times in between, shows the rapacity of the Vikings.
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extreme greediness; predatory quality or character.
People blamed the higher prices on the rapacity of businesses.
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(of animals) the fact or characteristic of subsisting by the capture of living prey.
The early settlers of America suffered from the severity of the climate and the rapacity of wolves.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rapacity
First recorded in 1490–1500, from Latin rapācitās, equivalent to rapāci- (stem of rapāx “greedy”; see rapacious ( def. )) + -tās -ty 2 ( def. )
Vocabulary lists containing rapacity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Perhaps my cynicism about Mr. Witkoff’s curious mix of ingenuousness and rapacity is unfair.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 1, 2025
But we had no illusion that Ricca, et al., would actually restrain their rapacity.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 25, 2020
Despite her dark wardrobe and wolflike rapacity on stage, she has a softness in person.
From New York Times ● May 6, 2016
Not for the first time, I was dumbstruck at the brilliance and originality of this master craftsman of the mind, his transparent rapacity of thought, his insatiable intellectual curiosity.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 10, 2011
For total greed, rapacity, heartlessness, and irresponsibility there is nothing to match a nation.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
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