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rapacious

adjective/rəˈpeɪʃəs/

definition

having an insatiable desire for wealth or material possessions

example

The rapacious corporate mogul was known for his relentless pursuit of wealth, often at the expense of his employees.

synonyms
greedyavariciousinsatiable
word origin — from Latin 'rapax', meaning 'seizing, greedy', from 'rapere', meaning 'to seize'.

rapacious, effusive, symbiotic, dilapidated, unalterable: meanings and examples

Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 3 set 240. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.

  1. rapacious · adjective/rəˈpeɪʃəs/

    having an insatiable desire for wealth or material possessions

    The rapacious corporate mogul was known for his relentless pursuit of wealth, often at the expense of his employees.

    Synonyms: greedy, avaricious, insatiable

    Origin: from Latin 'rapax', meaning 'seizing, greedy', from 'rapere', meaning 'to seize'.

  2. effusive · adjective/ɪˈfjusɪv/

    expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner

    She was effusive in her praise for the team's hard work, expressing her admiration with great enthusiasm.

    Synonyms: exuberant, unrestrained, enthusiastic

    Origin: The word 'effusive' comes from the Latin 'effusivus', which means 'pouring out', from 'effundere', meaning 'to pour out'.

  3. symbiotic · adjective/ˌsɪm.biˈɑ.tɪk/

    relating to a mutually beneficial relationship between different organisms

    The clownfish and the anemone have a symbiotic relationship that provides protection for the fish and nourishment for the anemone.

    Synonyms: mutualistic, cooperative, interdependent

    Origin: Derived from the Greek word 'symbiōsis', meaning 'living together'. The prefix 'sym-' means 'together' and 'bios' means 'life'.

  4. dilapidated · adjective/dɪˈlæp.ɪˌdeɪ.tɪd/

    in a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect

    The dilapidated building at the end of the street has been abandoned for years, leaving it to crumble under the weight of neglect.

    Synonyms: ruined, decayed, derelict

    Origin: from Latin dilapidatus, past participle of dilapidare 'to squander, waste or ruin', from dis- 'apart' + lapidare 'to stone, to throw stones'.

  5. unalterable · adjective/ʌnˈɔːltərəbəl/

    not able to be changed or modified

    The contract contained an unalterable clause that could not be modified without mutual consent.

    Synonyms: immutable, unchangeable, fixed

    Origin: The word 'unalterable' comes from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'alterable', which is derived from the Latin 'alterare' meaning 'to change'.