greedy

adjective

ˈgrē-dē 

greedier; greediest

1

: marked by greed : having or showing a selfish desire for wealth and possessions

greedy creditors

2

: eager, keen

greedy for fame

3

: having a strong desire for food or drink

You know how greedy they are, they're bound to eat them.

—J. K. Rowling

greedily

ˈgrē-də-lē 

adverb

greediness

ˈgrē-dē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of greedy

• grasping
• covetous
• avid
• acquisitive
• eager
• avaricious
• desirous
• coveting

Choose the Right Synonym for greedy

covetous, greedy, acquisitive, grasping, avaricious mean having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions.

covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions.

covetous of his brother's country estate

greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire.

greedy for status symbols

acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep.

an eagerly acquisitive mind

grasping adds to covetous and greedy an implication of selfishness and often suggests unfair or ruthless means.

a hard grasping businesswoman who cheated her associates

avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.

an avaricious miser

Examples of greedy in a Sentence

He was a ruthless and greedy businessman.

There's no need to get greedy—there's plenty for everyone.

He blames all his problems on greedy lawyers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Carrey portrays Ebenezer Scrooge, a cantankerous, greedy old man visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him the error of his ways. —Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025

The turning point in this contest, though, came when the Chiefs decided to get greedy on fourth-and-1 from their own 31-yard line. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 8 Dec. 2025

In the film, Frosty and one of the local children, Karen, are pursued by a greedy magician hoping to steal the mystical hat from the snowman's head. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025

Duff starred in the modern Cinderella retelling as orphan outcast Sam, who is treated horribly by her greedy stepmom (Coolidge) and stepsisters (Madeline Zima and Andrea Avery) after her father's death. —Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gredy, from Old English grǣdig; akin to Old High German grātac greedy

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for greedy

• beady
• guidi
• needy
• reedy
• seedy
• speedy
• tweedy
• weedy
• unready

Kids Definition

greedy

adjective

ˈgrēd-ē 

greedier; greediest

1

: having a keen appetite

2

: having an eager and often selfish desire or longing

greedy for praise

3

: wanting more than one needs or more than one's fair share (as of food)

greedily

ˈgrēd-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

greediness

ˈgrēd-ē-nəs 

noun