covetous

adjective

cov·​et·​ous ˈkə-və-təs How to pronounce covetous (audio)
1
: marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another's possessions
He looked at his boss's new car with covetous eyes.
2
: having a craving for possession
covetous of power
covetously adverb
covetousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for covetous

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 covetous in a Sentence

The expensive car drew many covetous looks. one aggressive bargain hunter rushed to make a covetous grab for the last marked-down TV
Recent Examples on the Web Though covetous of certain products, trends surrounding brands are often a flash in the pan, according to Casey Lewis, Gen Z consumer analyst and author of the viral After School newsletter. Bysasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2024 All regard Cuba with the covetous memories of former lovers—longing mingled with knowledge of the island’s practical side, its transactionalism. Jon Lee Anderson, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021 Photo : Mercedes-Benz AG This is a vehicle that is at once a capacious hauler of humans, a covetous lifestyle accessory, and a wildly competent militaristic transport. Brett Berk, Robb Report, 13 May 2024 As Céline launches a charm offensive — a kind of maternal seduction, even — on the boy, Alice grows ever more anxiously protective: Is her bereft neighbor merely seeking an outlet for her grief, or enacting some kind of covetous revenge? Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for covetous 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'covetous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see covet

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of covetous was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near covetous

Cite this Entry

“Covetous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/covetous. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

covetous

adjective
cov·​et·​ous ˈkəv-ət-əs How to pronounce covetous (audio)
: marked by a too eager desire especially for another's possessions
covetously adverb
covetousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on covetous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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