Rapacious, a.
Etymology: [L. rapax, -acis, from rapere to seize and carry off, to snatch away. See Rapid.]
1. Given to plunder; disposed or accustomed to seize by violence; seizing by force. " The downfall of the rapacious and licentious Knights Templar." Motley.
2. Accustomed to seize food; subsisting on prey, or animals seized by violence,; as, a tiger is a rapacious animal; a rapacious bird.
3. Avaricious; grasping; extortionate; also, greedy; ravenous; voracious; as, rapacious usurers; a rapacious appetite. [Thy Lord] redeem thee from Death's rapacious claim Milton .
Syn. -- Greedy; grasping; ravenous; voracious. -- Ra*pa"cious*ly, adv. -- Ra*pa"cious*ness, n.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for rapacious; he lists it under avaricious.
Where he writes about it:
The rapacious have the robber instinct, and put it in practise in some form, as far as they dare. — from avaricious
The avaricious and rapacious are ready to reach out for gain; the parsimonious, miserly, and niggardly prefer the safer and less adventurous way of avoiding expenditure. — from avaricious