vultures
Circling death eaters
Vultures are large birds that feed primarily on carrion—the flesh of dead animals.
They circle high on thermal currents, scanning for carcasses below.
Figuratively, vultures are people who prey on the vulnerable or dying, eager to profit from others' misfortune: The vultures were circling before the company even announced layoffs.
Debt collectors descended like vultures.
Putrefying animal remains
- carcassSlaughtered animal's body
- corpseDeceased human body
- remainsContinues in place
- rottingOrganic matter decomposing
decay · decomposition · flesh · bones · skeleton · offal · roadkill · putrefaction
Hunting bird with talons
- beakHorny avian mouthpart
- talonsHooked bird claws
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- wingspanTip-to-tip extent
plumage · avian · flock · roost · nesting · perching · birdwatching · ornithology
Moving around a center
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- greedyExcessively wanting more
ambulance chaser · capitalist · profiteer · exploiter · parasitic · ruthless · preying · bottom-feeder
Rising effortlessly upward
- glidingEngineless aerial movement
- thermalsWarm air columns
- updraftsAir moving skyward
- circlingMoving around a center
wingspan · airborne · altitude · kettling · effortless · spiral · hovering · descending
Cessation of life
- omenProphetic indicator
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- doomUnavoidable grim fate
- menaceSource of potential harm
sinister · macabre · grim · morbid · portent · eerie · dread · specter
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- decomposerOrganism breaking down corpses
- biodegradationMicrobial breakdown of organics
- food chainEcological feeding hierarchy
- sanitationCleanliness for public health
disease control · savanna · desert · grassland · habitat · conservation · diclofenac · lead poisoning
carrion
Putrefying animal remains
rotting · decay · decomposition · flesh · bones · skeleton · offal · roadkill · putrefaction · feeding
raptor
Hunting bird with talons
wingspan · plumage · avian · flock · roost · nesting · perching · birdwatching · ornithology · endangered
circling
Moving around a center
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
- exploitationSelfish use of others
greedy · ambulance chaser · capitalist · profiteer · exploiter · parasitic · ruthless · preying · bottom-feeder · opportunistic
soaring
Rising effortlessly upward
circling · wingspan · airborne · altitude · kettling · effortless · spiral · hovering · descending · aerial surveillance
death
Cessation of life
- omenProphetic indicator
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- doomUnavoidable grim fate
menace · sinister · macabre · grim · morbid · portent · eerie · dread · specter · dark
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- decomposerOrganism breaking down corpses
- biodegradationMicrobial breakdown of organics
- food chainEcological feeding hierarchy
sanitation · disease control · savanna · desert · grassland · habitat · conservation · diclofenac · lead poisoning · threatened species
- bird strikesbird strike, pyrotechnics, wildlife management, gulls, starlings
- scavenger birdscondor, condors, California condor, lammergeier, common raven
- airborne lifedragonflies, gnats, mayflies, midges, bird migration
- birdsrobin, crow, eagle, owl, duck
- living thingsplants, animals, animal, creature, birds
- desert lifecamel, cactus, scorpion, rattlesnake, sidewinder
vulturesnurturers
Those who foster development
protectors · guardians · benefactors · caregivers · Good Samaritans
vulturespollinators
Organisms transferring reproductive dust
bees · creators · producers · hummingbirds · decomposers
- culture vultureEager consumer of arts
- turkey vultureNorth American carrion-eating raptor
- vulture capitalistInvestor exploiting failing businesses
- black vultureDark New World scavenger bird
- vulture capitalismExploiting dying businesses
- king vulturesLarge colorful New World scavenger