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Rapacious vs Covet - What's the difference?

rapacious | covet |

As an adjective rapacious

is voracious; avaricious.

As a verb covet is

to wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of, often enviously.

rapacious

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Voracious; avaricious.
  • * 1787 , :
  • 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 .
  • Given to taking by force or plundering; aggressively greedy.
  • * 1910 , :
  • 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.
  • Subsisting off live prey.
  • * 1827 , :
  • 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 [...]

    Usage notes

    * The use of this term for animals other than birds is dated.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    covet

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of, often enviously.
  • To long for inordinately or unlawfully; to hanker after (something forbidden).
  • To yearn, have or indulge inordinate desire, notably for another's possession.
  • Derived terms

    * covetable * coveter * covetingly * covetous * covetousness