: 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
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 synth-heavy soundtrack is back, nodding to the greed-is-good eighties while evoking both an ultra-contemporary cool and an inhuman chill.
—
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The expediency and greed of the fast-moving artificial intelligence industry are the motivators, and health and safety are no longer of paramount concern.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
The dazzling works of Fra Angelico both testify to the immense wealth and power of fourteenth-century Florentine society and attempt to heal its pride, greed, and brutal inequality.
—Ingrid D. Rowland, The New York Review of Books, 5 Feb. 2026
The once-compassionate Democratic Party used to mobilize government for the downtrodden and check crony capitalism’s greed.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for greed
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Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The expediency and greed of the fast-moving artificial intelligence industry are the motivators, and health and safety are no longer of paramount concern.
—Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
The dazzling works of Fra Angelico both testify to the immense wealth and power of fourteenth-century Florentine society and attempt to heal its pride, greed, and brutal inequality.
—Ingrid D. Rowland, The New York Review of Books, 5 Feb. 2026
The once-compassionate Democratic Party used to mobilize government for the downtrodden and check crony capitalism’s greed.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for greed
Cite this Entry
“Greed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greed. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
greed
noun
: selfish desire for food, money, or possessions over and above one's needs
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