Definition of "rapacious"

rapacious

/ɹəˈpeɪ.ʃəs/

adjective
comparative more rapacious, superlative most rapacious
1. (also figurative) Voracious; avaricious.
  Quotations
  To presume a want of motives for such contests [of power between states] as an argument against their existence, would be to forget that men are ambitious, vindictive, and rapacious.
  1787, Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 6: Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States
  Big Tech companies, on the other hand, have proven themselves to be rapacious capitalists—they take as much as they can and ask for permission later.
  2021 March 16, Noam Cohen, “Wikipedia Is Finally Asking Big Tech to Pay Up”, in Wired‎
2. Given to taking by force or plundering; aggressively greedy.
  Quotations
  A Prince […] sooner becomes hated by being rapacious and by interfering with the property and with the women of his subjects, than in any other way.
  1910, Niccolò Machiavelli, “Chapter XIX”, in Ninian Hill Thomson, transl., The Prince
3. (of an animal, usually a bird) Subsisting off live prey.
  Quotations
  Even the rapacious birds appeared to comprehend the nature of the ceremony, for […] they once more began to make their airy circuits above the place […]
  1827, James Fenimore Cooper, “Chapter XIII”, in The Prairie