Definition of greedynext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective greedy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of greedy are acquisitive, avaricious, covetous, and grasping. While all these words mean "having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions," greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire.

greedy for status symbols

When is it sensible to use acquisitive instead of greedy?

In some situations, the words acquisitive and greedy are roughly equivalent. However, acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep.

an eagerly acquisitive mind

When is avaricious a more appropriate choice than greedy?

The words avaricious and greedy can be used in similar contexts, but avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.

an avaricious miser

Where would covetous be a reasonable alternative to greedy?

The meanings of covetous and greedy largely overlap; however, covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions.

covetous of his brother's country estate

How does the word grasping relate to other synonyms for greedy?

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of greedy 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 There’s greedy, ruthless, hypocritical Conkling, enriching himself by any means necessary. Judy Berman, Time, 28 Nov. 2025 According to Isaac, the regent was a cruel and greedy man who killed his subjects, took their land, and allied himself with Congo’s dictator, Joseph Mobutu. Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025 But Septime Webre’s choreography is supposed to have the air of wild and sometimes frenzied social dancing, of Charlestons and Fox Trots and Black Bottoms, of indulging the glorious excesses of the 1920s before the greedier side of the American Dream comes crashing down a few years later. David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for greedy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for greedy
Adjective
  • In this war lawyers invariably are depicted as soulless and grasping ambulance-chasers unconcerned about their clients’ welfare, and businesses as, well, soulless, grasping and unconcerned about their customers.
    Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The grasping big toe also suggested this human relative spent more time in the trees.
    CBS News, CBS News, 26 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Luckily, golf courses across the globe understand the need to satiate ravenous players with unique meals.
    Katie Sweeney, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Data centers are resource-ravenous; even a midsize data center may consume as much water as a small town, while larger ones may use up to 5 million gallons of water every day — as much as a city of 50,000 people, according to the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Bowe is excited for the 2026 Winter Games — particularly the return to fans in the stands, as they were still barred from attending in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Strassler is particularly excited about the study of radioactive thorium-229 decay, which could reveal variations in the fundamental constants.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • For most players, that amount of storage is realistically enough for all but the most covetous data hoarders.
    Matt Kamen, Wired News, 3 Aug. 2025
  • This is, in part, correct: Voldemort is extremely covetous of power.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • With a hungry ghost and a series of crippling self-esteem issues in tow, Saccharine leaves a lot for audiences to stomach.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
  • As sea ice thaws, the prospect of resource extraction will be appealing in an energy-hungry world where climate pragmatism is the new guideline.
    Chloe Demrovsky, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed going on adventures with Joule, his beloved Catahoula leopard dog who also recently died.
    Michael Biesecker, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2026
  • Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, was an avid outdoorsman who loved getting in adventures with Joule, his beloved Catahoula Leopard dog who also recently died.
    WCCO Staff, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • L’Oréal, which was highly acquisitive in 2025, with deals to purchase Kering Beauty, Medik8 and ColorWow, as well as an additional 10 percent stake in Galderma, among other transactions, no doubt will continue enriching its portfolio in the new year.
    Footwear News, Footwear News, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Paramount Skydance completed its merger last year, and since then CEO David Ellison has been acquisitive.
    Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • On her debut solo album, Quicksand Heart, Jenny Hollingworth is hungry—practically gluttonous—for life.
    Aimee Cliff, Pitchfork, 16 Jan. 2026
  • In this, the second-to-last time Friends would celebrate November’s most gluttonous holiday, Rachel’s obnoxious sister Amy (Christina Applegate) invites herself to Thanksgiving, and the conversation turns to who would get custody of baby Emma if Rachel and Ross died.
    Brian Boone, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Greedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/greedy. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

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