greed

greed

noun \ˈgrēd\

Definition of GREED

: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed

Examples of GREED

1. He was a ruthless businessman, motivated by naked ambition and greed.
2. <don't let greed for riches control you>

Origin of GREED

back-formation from greedy

First Known Use: 1609

Related to GREED

Synonyms

acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, avidness, covetousness, cupidity, graspingness, greediness, mercenariness, rapaciousness, rapacity

Related Words

hoggery; commercialism, materialism, possessiveness; gluttonousness, gluttony, piggishness; appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, longing, lust, passion, pining, ravenousness, thirst, voracity, yearning, yen; egoism, egotism, self-centeredness, self-interest, selfishness, self-regard

Near Antonyms

contentment, fulfillment (or fulfilment), gratification, satisfaction; bounteousness, bountifulness, bounty, charity, generosity, generousness, largesse (also largess), liberality, magnanimity, openhandedness, openheartedness, unselfishness; altruism, selflessness

Rhymes with GREED

bead, Bede, bleed, brede, breed, cede, creed, deed, feed, Gide, gleed, heed, keyed, knead, kneed, lead, mead, Mead, Mede, meed, need, plead, read, rede, reed, screed, seed, Snead, speed, steed, swede, treed, tweed, weed