Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The word 'voracious' originates from the Latin 'vorare', meaning 'to devour'. It describes an insatiable appetite or eagerness, often extending beyond physical hunger to encompass a passionate desire for knowledge, power, or possessions. While commonly used to describe someone who eats greedily, its application extends to abstract concepts, signifying an unrestrained and consuming enthusiasm. Understanding the nuances of 'voracious' is crucial for precise communication and effective expression in academic and professional contexts.
Understanding 'Voracious'
The core meaning of 'voracious' revolves around an immense and unquenchable desire. It implies a consuming passion that is difficult to satisfy. It’s not merely ‘large’ or ‘great’; it suggests a relentless, almost aggressive pursuit of fulfillment. The word carries a connotation of excess and often, a lack of restraint.
Nuances and Contexts
The application of 'voracious' can vary depending on the context. It can describe:
- Physical Appetite: A voracious eater consumes food with great speed and quantity.
- Intellectual Curiosity: A voracious reader devours books, seeking knowledge relentlessly.
- Ambition: A voracious politician relentlessly pursues power and influence.
- Demand: A voracious market demands ever-increasing quantities of a product.
Illustrative Sentence
The proliferation of misinformation online, fueled by algorithms designed to maximize engagement, has created a voracious appetite for sensationalism, eroding public trust in established institutions and hindering informed democratic discourse.
Explanation of Sentence Choice
This sentence utilizes 'voracious' to describe the public's demand for sensationalism. It connects the word to a contemporary issue – the spread of misinformation – and highlights the negative consequences of this insatiable desire. The sentence demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the word's meaning beyond its literal definition. It also avoids clichés and presents a nuanced perspective.
Alternative Sentence Examples
- Driven by a voracious ambition, the entrepreneur relentlessly pursued market dominance, often at the expense of ethical considerations.
- The newly independent nation displayed a voracious need for infrastructure development, seeking foreign investment to bridge the significant gap.
Distinguishing 'Voracious' from Similar Words
| Word | Meaning | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| Greedy | Excessive desire for possessions | Focuses on material gain; often carries a negative moral judgment. |
| Ravenous | Extremely hungry | Primarily relates to physical hunger; less applicable to abstract desires. |
| Insatiable | Impossible to satisfy | Similar to voracious, but emphasizes the impossibility of fulfillment. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, 'voracious' signifies an immense and unquenchable desire, extending beyond mere physical hunger to encompass a passionate pursuit of knowledge, power, or other objectives. Its effective use requires understanding its nuances and applying it to contexts that demonstrate its consuming and unrestrained nature. The chosen sentence exemplifies this understanding by linking the word to the contemporary challenge of misinformation and its impact on democratic processes.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.