: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed
motivated by naked ambition and greed
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
And Trump should not be surprised when millions of Americans stand up to his authoritarianism and his greed.
—
Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Oct. 2025
In his new book, 1929, Sorkin takes the most famous stock crash in history and turns it into a thrilling saga of greed, folly, and despair that resonates with present times.
—Jim Kelly, Air Mail, 11 Oct. 2025
Some cases even involve disgruntled family members acting out of greed.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Strong will play class-action lawyer Jason Smith, who exposed the politics, greed and corruption that initially worked against emergency workers who responded after the World Trade Center collapsed.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for greed
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Oct. 2025
In his new book, 1929, Sorkin takes the most famous stock crash in history and turns it into a thrilling saga of greed, folly, and despair that resonates with present times.
—Jim Kelly, Air Mail, 11 Oct. 2025
Some cases even involve disgruntled family members acting out of greed.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Strong will play class-action lawyer Jason Smith, who exposed the politics, greed and corruption that initially worked against emergency workers who responded after the World Trade Center collapsed.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for greed
Cite this Entry
“Greed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greed. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
greed
noun
: selfish desire for food, money, or possessions over and above one's needs
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share