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 The Inflation Reduction Act was a good first step in addressing corporate greed. James Powel, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024 The remarks were at an official event, but came as Biden makes cracking down on corporate greed and relieving financial burdens for American families a key pillar of his 2024 reelection campaign. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024 While the film touches on themes of friendship and teamwork, negative behavior like greed and selfishness overshadows these messages. Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024 But its impassioned plea for humans to reject corporate greed in favor of gentleness and care for the natural world would ripple across the series for decades. Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024 The Cassirer family, their attorneys and Jewish organizations say those arguments have not only been rejected by the courts, but are insulting — trading on the dangerous stereotype of Jewish greed by suggesting the family is looking to be paid twice. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Her crimes caught up with her, and her greed — not just for Sweeney but her greed for money. Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024 What’s happening: Economic downturns, real or perceived, tend to shift investor mentality away from greed and toward fear. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024 Vengeance, greed, and blood soak the pages but so do love, loss, and a lot of regret. Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'greed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near greed

Cite this Entry

“Greed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greed. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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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