Voracious means having an intenseVery strong in degree or force; not mild or weak. appetiteA natural desire to eat; sometimes a desire for more of something. or a strong, excessive desire for something. It is most often used for food, but it can also describe greed or an insatiableImpossible to satisfy; never having enough. craving for power, money, or resources.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /voh-RAY-shus/
Easy pronunciation: voh-RAY-shus (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress is on the second syllable: RAY.
Used here in the hunger sense: very hungry; wanting to eat a lot.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Voracious Meaning
very hungry; wanting to eat a lot
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: devouring or craving food in great quantities
Example: The voracious sharks stripped the bait within minutes.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- ravenous — A strong everyday substitute for extreme hunger.
- wolfish — Works in this hunger sense, though it is less common and more figurative.
- ravening — Can mean extremely hungry, but it is more literary or formal.
- edacious — A rare formal word meaning eating greedily.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Voracious
Meaning 2
wanting too much of something in a greedy way
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: excessively greedy and grasping
Example: The company was criticized for its voracious appetite for land.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- rapacious — A direct fit for greedy, grasping behavior.
- ravening — Can describe greedy desire, though it is more formal or literary.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Voracious Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- ravenous
- rapacious
greedy and grasping
- rapacious
- ravening
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Voracious in a Sentence
- He was a voracious reader as a child.
- The voracious sharks stripped the bait within minutes.
- The company was criticized for its voracious appetite for land.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not use voracious only for food; it can also describe greedy desire for money, power, or resources.
- Do not confuse voracious with merely hungry. It usually suggests a very strong or extreme appetite.
- Ravenous is the closest everyday synonym, while rapacious is better for the greed sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does voracious mean?
Voracious means extremely hungry or intensely greedy. It often describes someone or something that wants a lot of food, but it can also describe a strong greedy appetite for money, power, or other things.
What is a good synonym for voracious?
Ravenous is the best everyday synonym when voracious means very hungry. When it means greedy or grasping, rapacious is a better synonym.
Can voracious be used for reading?
Yes. A voracious reader is someone who reads a lot and with great enthusiasm or hunger for books.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
