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Definitions

ravening

[rav-uh-ning] / ˈræv ə nɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

edacious

Synonyms

WEAK

devouring esurient gluttonous greedy hoggish insatiable rapacious ravenous unappeasable

ADJECTIVE

famished

Synonyms

STRONG

empty hollow hungering starved

WEAK

could eat a horse dog-hungry flying light having the munchies hungry ravenous starved to death voracious

Antonyms

STRONG

full

WEAK

sated satiated satisfied

ADJECTIVE

ferocious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

brutal brutish cruel fierce frightful merciless murderous ravenous relentless ruthless savage vehement vicious voracious

WEAK

barbarous bloodthirsty fell feral grim implacable inhuman inhumane lupine pitiless predatory rapacious sanguinary tigerish truculent unmerciful unrestrained untamed wild wolfish

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm compassionate considerate gentle giving kind merciful nice pleasant satisfied sympathetic tame

WEAK

innocent mild nonviolent tender

ADJECTIVE

gluttonous

Synonyms

WEAK

covetous devouring edacious gorging gourmandizing greedy gross hoggish insatiable never full omnivorous piggish piggy prodigious rapacious ravenous sating starved starving unquenchable wolfish

ADJECTIVE

greedy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

eager hungry impatient rapacious selfish

WEAK

acquisitive avaricious avid carnivorous close close-fisted covetous craving desirous devouring edacious esurient gluttonous gobbling gormandizing grabby grasping grudging gulping guzzling hoggish insatiable insatiate intemperate itchy miserly omnivorous parsimonious penny-pinching penurious piggish prehensile ravenous stingy swinish tight tight-fisted voracious

Antonyms

WEAK

abstemious benevolent charitable extravagant generous liberal philanthropic

ADJECTIVE

piggish

Synonyms

WEAK

acquisitive avaricious avid carnivorous close close-fisted covetous craving desirous devouring eager edacious esurient gluttonous gobbling gormandizing grabby grasping grudging gulping guzzling hoggish hungry impatient insatiable insatiate intemperate itchy miserly omnivorous parsimonious pennypinching penurious prehensile rapacious ravenous selfish stingy swinish tight tight-fisted voracious

ADJECTIVE

predatory

Synonyms

STRONGEST

greedy marauding rapacious voracious

WEAK

bloodthirsty carnivorous depredatory despoiling hungry hunting pillaging plundering predacious predative preying raptorial ravaging thieving vulturine vulturous wolfish

ADJECTIVE

preying

Synonyms

WEAK

predaceous predacious rapacious raptorial

ADJECTIVE

rapacious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ferocious greedy marauding predatory ravenous voracious

WEAK

avaricious furious murderous preying savage

Antonyms

STRONGEST

satisfied

ADJECTIVE

ravenous

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ferocious greedy insatiable rapacious voracious

WEAK

avaricious could eat a horse covetous devouring edacious empty famished gluttonous grasping insatiate omnivorous predatory starved starved to death starving wolfish

Antonyms

STRONGEST

satisfied

WEAK

full

ADJECTIVE

savage

Synonyms

STRONGEST

atrocious barbarous bloody brutal cold-blooded destructive ferocious fierce harsh inhuman inhumane merciless murderous relentless ruthless sadistic unrelenting violent

STRONG

crazed demoniac infernal raging

WEAK

beastly bestial bloodthirsty brutish devilish diabolical feral ferine frantic furious grim heartless hellish malevolent malicious pitiless rabid rapacious remorseless truculent wolfish

Antonyms

STRONGEST

compassionate gentle humane kind merciful nice polite sympathetic tender

WEAK

benign

ADJECTIVE

unappeasable

Synonyms

WEAK

avid covetous devouring dog-hungry edacious empty gluttonous gorging grasping greedy gross insatiable omnivorous piggy prodigious rapacious ravenous sating starved starved to death starving uncontrolled unquenchable

ADJECTIVE

voracious

Synonyms

STRONGEST

avid insatiable prodigious rapacious ravenous

WEAK

covetous devouring dog-hungry edacious empty gluttonous gorging grasping gross omnivorous piggy sating starved starved to death starving uncontrolled unquenchable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

full satisfied

WEAK

quenched

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for ravening?

Ravening can mean about the same thing as ravenous—extremely hungry or famished—but the words often have different shades of meaning. See the next section for an explanation of the differences. A prime synonym for ravening is voracious, which implies craving or eating a great deal of food, as in a voracious appetite or The kids were voracious after the hike. The word starving is often used as a synonym for very hungry or famished, but many people avoid it so as to avoid insensitive comparisons to those experiencing literal starvation. Ravening can also be used figuratively outside of the context of food. This sense of the word can mean greedy or even predatory in the pursuit of things that are desired, such as money or knowledge. A strong synonym for this sense is rapacious. A person who has a ravening appetite—literally or figuratively—could be described as insatiable. The word ravening is also sometimes used as a noun. Synonyms for this sense include ravenousness and voraciousness. Both of these can be used figuratively outside the context of food. This is how the similar word rapacity is always used.

What's the difference between ravening vs. ravenous?

Ravening and ravenous both suggest intense hunger, but ravening often adds an element of fierceness, like that of wild animals on the hunt, as in ravening wolves. This sense can also be applied to people, in a somewhat figurative way. Ravening is also used outside of the context of food to suggest greediness or extreme desire—in the same way that voracious is sometimes used. Ravenous can be used in this way, but it’s more often applied in the context of literal hunger. Ravenous is more commonly used than ravening.

What are antonyms (opposites) of ravening?

In general, ravening can mean “intensely hungry” or “extremely desirous or greedy.” Opposites of both of those senses include satisfied, sated, and satiated. When literally talking about having had enough food, a very common and straightforward term is full. Words that suggest being more than full include gorged, glutted, and, more informally, stuffed.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He avoided opportunities to address the ravening reporters.

From Washington Post • Apr. 4, 2023

Britain’s ravening tabloids have been a bit more circumspect than usual about Harry’s return.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2021

In the post-apocalypse, you will … walk in Elvis’ blue suede shoes … ride in The King’s pink ’55 Cadillac … fend off swarms of the ravening undead.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 16, 2019

That’s when the loss undoubtedly occurred: in the course of scrambling together our stuff—coats, kids’ books, credit-card receipt, earbuds, scarves, bags, phones, an umbrella—and then hurrying through the rainy and ravening night.

From The New Yorker • Jun. 25, 2018

This time they came from the Bible, through which she made desultory progress: gainsay, ravening, hoar.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead

ravening

Frequently Asked Questions

Example Sentences

Related Words