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vulturous

vulturous

1 9.9
Likely to take advantage of weak people or animals, like a bird that eats dead animals
  • adjective
  • /ˈvʌltʃərəs/
: vulturino
  • His vulturous mindset was evident when he exploited his friends for personal gain.

Examples

  • They innards ripped out by greedy, vulturous hands.

  • If there is nothing but vulturous hunger for fine wines, valet reputation, and gilt carriages, is it discoverable there?

    Academic text (2011)
  • I turned eighteen in the autumn of my senior year when the social worker closed in on me, a vulturous summons, but there were no recitals by me, no weakness rendered to the chosen cause; she recorded my silence, the condition of my clothes, the signs of poverty, blemishes, ruled that my troubles were unnatural, and presented me with a basket of used clothes.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The vulturous predator stalked the young deer, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

  • In the jungle, the vulturous birds circled above, searching for weak animals to capture.

Synonyms

predatory
vsvulturous
12 4.8

Hunting and eating other animals for food

includes birdlike habits or appearance beyond simple hunting
ravening
vsvulturous
3 9.9

Very hungry or greedy and acting in a violent way to take what others have

describes a regular hunting lifestyle rather than momentary intense hunger
rapacious
vsvulturous
1 8.4

Hunting and eating other animals for food

adds birdlike habits or appearance to that hunting behaviour
raptorial
vsvulturous
  • Specialized
1 9.1

Animals, especially birds, that catch and eat other animals

emphasizes a specific birdlike appearance or habits beyond bird hunting
vulturine
vsvulturous
1 9.9

Living by hunting and eating other animals

adds birdlike habits or appearance rather than general hunting alone
zoophagous
vsvulturous
  • Specialized
9.9

An animal that eats other animals for food

adds birdlike habits or appearance to mere carnivorous feeding

Antonyms

21 5.5

Easy to teach and willing to follow instructions

How Predatory

rapacious
  • Formal
6 9.3
vulturous
1 9.9
predatory
12 4.8
opportunistic
26 6.8

Surface Forms

vulturous positive

Morphology

vulturous = vulture (transparent) = vulture + ous

The adjective is clearly formed from the noun 'vulture' + the productive adjectival suffix '-ous', meaning 'like or relating to a vulture'.

Etymology

Vulturous comes from the old Latin word vultur, which gave English the word vulture and means 'vulture', a bird that circles and waits to take food from others. So vulturous describes a person or animal that behaves like a vulture, greedy and ready to prey on others.