acquisitive

adjective

ac·​quis·​i·​tive ə-ˈkwi-zə-tiv 

: strongly desirous of acquiring and possessing

acquisitively adverb

acquisitiveness noun

Did you know?

While acquisitive is a useful synonym of the likes of greedy and avaricious, it's relatively unknown compared to its more popular lexical relations, acquire and acquisition. The former of that pair is most often used to mean "to get as one's own," as in "skills acquired through practice"; the latter refers either to the act of acquiring something, as in "the acquisition of skills," or to something or someone acquired or gained, as in "the museum's recent acquisitions." All three have as their ultimate source the Latin word acquīrere, meaning "to acquire." While acquire and acquisition have both been in use since the 15th century, acquisitive is a bit younger. The word has a somewhat rare use meaning "capable of acquiring" that dates to the late 16th century, but its "greedy" meaning dates only to the early 19th century.

Synonyms

• avaricious
• avid
• coveting
• covetous
• grabby
• grasping
• greedy
• mercenary
• moneygrubbing
• rapacious

Choose the Right Synonym for acquisitive

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 acquisitive in a Sentence

acquisitive developers are trying to tear down the historic home and build a shopping mall

Recent Examples on the Web

This uncanny permanence fails to spark the acquisitive impulse in us. —Meghan O'Gieblyn, WIRED, 16 Aug. 2023

That streaming future is the one piece of the puzzle where Iger still appears acquisitive. —Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 July 2023

The film casts a cynical side-eye at the acquisitive ethos of the Reagan ’80s, told with a hypnotic sense of style. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2023

At its recent annual strategy presentation, Sony said that the group aims to continue to be acquisitive in its entertainment verticals – global film and TV (known as the ‘pictures division’), games hardware and software, and music. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 31 May 2023

Citizens has been acquisitive in the past few years. —Luisa Beltran, Fortune, 30 May 2023

His reaction foreshadows Chalky’s subsequent affair with Daughter Maitland (Margot Bingham), a woman whose youth and light-skinned beauty stand in for the acquisitive tendencies in Chalky’s character, born in feelings of anxiety over his hard looks, dark skin, and poor upbringing. —Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2021

The wobbliest of unicorns may also rethink their store expansion strategies and/or run into the arms of an acquisitive suitor. —Steve Dennis, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2023

The acquisitive Geely chief is reportedly interested in adding Aston Martin to his mixed bag of brands, which includes Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus. —Georg Kacher, Car and Driver, 10 Feb. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & Late Latin; French acquisitif, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Late Latin acquīsītīvus "acquired, involving gain or possession," from Latin acquīsītus (past participle of acquīrere "to acquire") + -īvus -ive

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

acquisitive

adjective

ac·​quis·​i·​tive ə-ˈkwiz-ət-iv 

: having a strong wish to acquire things

acquisitiveness noun