greed

noun

ˈgrēd 

: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed

motivated by naked ambition and greed

greed for money and power

Synonyms of greed

• avarice
• greediness
• rapacity
• acquisitiveness
• cupidity
• desire
• covetousness
• rapaciousness
• avariciousness
• hunger
• thirst
• appetite

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 on the Web

The Shift from Profit to Purpose While most companies are in the business of making money, history shows that greed as a business strategy often fails. —Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

As jealousy, greed, and paranoia take hold, the group is torn apart by their inner demons, threatening to turn their angelic encounter into a descent into hell. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026

The political and economic geography of the copperbelt, the mining zone that snakes under Katanga and northern Zambia, has been fashioned by external forces and outside greed since at least the time of Belgian colonization. —Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026

Industry is where innocence goes to die, choked out in bed by various personifications of greed. —Judy Berman, Time, 19 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from greedy

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for greed

• bead
• bleed
• brede
• breed
• cede
• creed
• deed
• feed
• freed
• heed
• keyed
• knead

Kids Definition

greed

noun

ˈgrēd 

: selfish desire for food, money, or possessions over and above one's needs