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.
