avaricious

adjective av·a·ri·cious \ ˌa-və-ˈri-shəs \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of avaricious

: greedy of gain : excessively acquisitive especially in seeking to hoard riches

avaricious land-grabbers

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avariciously

adverb

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avariciousness

noun

See avaricious defined for kids

Examples of avaricious in a Sentence

an avaricious scheme to con the elderly couple out of thousands of dollars

Recent Examples of avaricious from the Web

That, of course, would be Johnson's Davis Okuye, a primatologist whose prize subject -- a sign-language-fluent albino gorilla named George -- unluckily runs afoul of a pathogen that plummets from the sky, courtesy of an avaricious corporation.

— brian lowry, CNN, "'Rampage' cooks up generic monster mash with Dwayne Johnson," 12 Apr. 2018
These were sites of brutal treatment and unbearable sorrow, as callous and avaricious slave traders tore apart families, separating husbands from wives, and children from their parents.

— jonathan w. white, Smithsonian, "When Emancipation Finally Came, Slave Markets Took on a Redemptive Purpose," 27 Feb. 2018
The vagaries of Chinese regulations and an avaricious bureaucracy have already ensnared others, like Avon, once the top direct seller here.

— ryan mcmorrow and steven lee myers, New York Times, "Amway Made China a Billion-Dollar Market. Now It Faces a Crackdown.," 8 Jan. 2018
Among the magazine’s pranks was to mail checks of smaller and smaller quantities to celebrities and wait to see who was avaricious enough to cash them; Mr. Trump redeemed a check for 13 cents.

— michael m. grynbaum, New York Times, "Graydon Carter to End 25-Year Run as Vanity Fair’s Editor," 7 Sep. 2017
And some particularly avaricious sellers are listing the item at $3,000 or higher.

— chris morris, Fortune, "People Are Paying Up To $2,000 For an iPhone 8 on eBay," 15 Sep. 2017
Among the magazine’s pranks was to mail checks of smaller and smaller quantities to celebrities and wait to see who was avaricious enough to cash them

— michael m. grynbaum, New York Times, "Graydon Carter to End 25-Year Run as Vanity Fair’s Editor," 7 Sep. 2017
Soon thereafter, Jim is killed in action, and the flinty woman grows even more proud, imperious, and avaricious.

— richard brody, The New Yorker, "Pilgrimage," 5 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'avaricious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of avaricious

see avarice

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

avaricious Synonyms

Synonyms

acquisitive, avid, coveting, covetous, grabby, grasping, greedy, mercenary, moneygrubbing, rapacious;

Near Antonyms

nonmaterialistic;

altruistic, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, greathearted, handsome, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, selfless, unselfish, unsparing;

controlled, moderate, restrained, temperate;

content, sated, satisfied;

desirous, eager, itchy, miserly;

hoggish, piggish, piggy, swinish;

devouring, gluttonous, gobbling, insatiable, ravenous, unquenchable, voracious;

egocentric, egoistic (also egoistical), egotistic (or egotistical), self-centered, self-seeking;

discontent, discontented, malcontent, unsatisfied;

begrudging, grudging, resentful;

Synonym Discussion of avaricious

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.