Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective acquisitive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of acquisitive are avaricious, covetous, grasping, and greedy. While all these words mean "having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions," acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep.

an eagerly acquisitive mind

When could avaricious be used to replace acquisitive?

While in some cases nearly identical to acquisitive, avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.

an avaricious miser

When would covetous be a good substitute for acquisitive?

While the synonyms covetous and acquisitive are close in meaning, covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions.

covetous of his brother's country estate

How does the word grasping relate to other synonyms for acquisitive?

Grasping adds to covetous and greedy an implication of selfishness and often suggests unfair or ruthless means.

a hard grasping businesswoman who cheated her associates

When might greedy be a better fit than acquisitive?

The synonyms greedy and acquisitive are sometimes interchangeable, but greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire.

greedy for status symbols

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of acquisitive Building out that platform and benefiting as more teams are plugged into it has meant Leonsis and MSE have stayed acquisitive. Ian Thomas, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025 Retail e-commerce penetration had surged during the pandemic, which brought a rush of acquisitive capital into the space. Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025 Cybersecurity providers are becoming more acquisitive, with some looking to offer a full platform of products to customers that are seeking to save money by reducing vendors. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 30 July 2025 The competitive battle for smaller players continued into the early 1960s until antitrust laws curtailed the acquisitive sprees. Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for acquisitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acquisitive
Adjective
  • Because even in a world of monsters, ghouls, and greedy jerks, the good guys still prevail.
    Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Both love rich, moist soil and neither one is greedy with space in the garden.
    Heather Bien, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Governments have turned to the Kremlin’s private mercenary army, the Africa Corps — formerly known as the Wagner Group — for protection.
    Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
  • The protagonist’s diabolical plot is fuelled by an unmanageable tangle of emotions, including raging jealousy, mercenary self-interest, and resentment of Eileen’s professional and intellectual accomplishments, which sparks shame at her own cosseted frivolity.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Now, stepping in Kansas City is shifting to a younger crowd that is eager to learn how to do the dance and continue on the legacy.
    Alexa Stone Updated October 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Fadaka-Soetan was one of the eager Lil Yachty fans that followed people onto the field and managed to get close to the stage alongside her friend, Brent.
    Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • What Netanyahu wants is not this peace deal or avaricious annexations, but to stay in power.
    Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 21 Oct. 2025
  • But is better than the alternative of admitting to an avaricious Moscow that Ukraine must accept some kind of defeat.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For most players, that amount of storage is realistically enough for all but the most covetous data hoarders.
    Matt Kamen, Wired News, 3 Aug. 2025
  • This is, in part, correct: Voldemort is extremely covetous of power.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Acquisitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acquisitive. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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