Voraces

Voraces is a term used in several Romance languages to describe a ravenous or insatiable appetite, whether literal, such as hunger, or figurative, such as greed or ambition. The core sense is predatory urgency, an eagerness to consume, acquire, or achieve.

Etymology and cognates: It derives from Latin vorax, voracis, meaning devouring. The word has cognates in Spanish (voraz, with plural voraces), French (vorace, with plural voraces), and Portuguese (voraz, with plural vorazes). In each language it functions mainly as an adjective, though in some contexts it can be used as a noun phrase referring to ravenous people or groups.

Usage: In everyday language, it is common to describe persons, markets, or tendencies as voraces. Examples include un consumidor voraz in Spanish, des acheteurs voraces in French, or um consumidor voraz in Portuguese. The term often carries a negative or critical nuance, emphasizing excess and lack of restraint.

In biology and cultural analysis, voracidad or voracidade (the corresponding nouns in Spanish and Portuguese) are used to discuss insatiable feeding behaviors or an insatiable drive in societies. The word’s versatility allows it to describe both physical hunger and relentless pursuit in economics, politics, or personal conduct.

See also: voracity, greed, appetite, insatiability.