greed

noun

: 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
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.
Sadly, and as usual, greed takes precedence over logic. U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025 His previous war was driven by greed and cost hundreds of lives, Ka’iana’s father among them, but Kahekili claims to have learned from his mistakes and now only wants what’s best for the islands. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 31 July 2025 Wall to Wall lets the viewer answer this question for herself, though Woo-sung’s return to his apartment suggests that Kim believes that there is an inherent human ambition or greed that keeps us pushing for more. Kayti Burt, Time, 18 July 2025 So, these cowboys became amateur archaeologists, triggering a relics rush that would come to rival the greed of gold. Mike Bezemek, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for greed

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from greedy

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of greed was in 1609

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Greed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greed. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

greed

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

More from Merriam-Webster on greed

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