: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed
- motivated by naked ambition and greed
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Examples of greed in a Sentence
He was a ruthless businessman, motivated by naked ambition and greed.
don't let greed for riches control you
Recent Examples of greed from the Web
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But those tweets were almost lost among a dozen who argued this is about greed, not safety.
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The only thing that stands between the greed of the corporation and the People is your government.
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Miller heavily implied that the accusers and magistrates of Salem were motivated by a combination of fear and greed, including a desire to seize the lands of the accused.
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And heaven help the circle of over-the-top villains who try to abuse those familial ties for their own greed.
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Apparently Hannity’s greed is bigger than his head or his ego.
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The losers are ill-informed buyers caught up in the spiral of greed.
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Some politicians engage in financially corrupt practices out of personal greed; others out of desperation to succeed in elections, where high expenditure on campaigns increasingly affects outcome.
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Ambition, ego and greed conspire to change our courses, for better or worse.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'greed.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of greed
back-formation from greedy
greed Synonyms
Synonyms
acquisitiveness, avarice, avariciousness, avidity, avidness, covetousness, cupidity, graspingness, greediness, mercenariness, rapaciousness, rapacity;
Near Antonyms
contentment, fulfillment (or fulfilment), gratification, satisfaction;
bounteousness, bountifulness, bounty, charity, generosity, generousness, largesse (also largess), liberality, magnanimity, openhandedness, openheartedness, unselfishness;
Related Words
commercialism, materialism, possessiveness;
gluttonousness, gluttony, piggishness;
appetite, craving, desire, drive, hankering, hunger, itch, longing, lust, passion, pining, ravenousness, thirst, voracity, yearning, yen;
egoism, egotism, self-centeredness, self-interest, selfishness, self-regard;
GREED Defined for English Language Learners
GREED Defined for Kids
noun
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ˈgrēd
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: selfish desire for more than is needed
Learn More about greed
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See words that rhyme with greed Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for greed Spanish Central: Translation of greed Nglish: Translation of greed for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of greed for Arabic speakers
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