as in greed
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions
the bank official's embezzlement was motivated by pure avarice
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Recent Examples of avarice
But the damage this episode of Europe-bashing and open colonial avarice has done is real and enduring.
—
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
Certainly there’s a long and distinguished tradition of associating Jewish arrivistes with entrepreneurialism, avarice, and clannishness.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Advertisement For years, Khan condemned graft and personal avarice.
—Rafia Zakaria, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Mammon, the lord of avarice and demon god of greed and money.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for avarice
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
Certainly there’s a long and distinguished tradition of associating Jewish arrivistes with entrepreneurialism, avarice, and clannishness.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Advertisement For years, Khan condemned graft and personal avarice.
—Rafia Zakaria, Time, 6 Nov. 2025
Mammon, the lord of avarice and demon god of greed and money.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for avarice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avarice
greed
Noun
-
Prosecutors countered that the duo were motivated by greed, not virtue.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
3 May 2026
-
Is no one else bothered by the rapacious greed?—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avarice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avarice. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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