Synonyms of avaricious

avaricious

adjective

ˌa-və-ˈri-shəs 

as in greedy

having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions

an avaricious scheme to con the elderly couple out of thousands of dollars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• greedy
• mercenary
• eager
• acquisitive
• covetous
• avid
• grasping
• rapacious
• coveting
• moneygrubbing
• grabby
• materialistic
• desirous
• egotistical
• miserly
• insatiable
• ravenous
• egoistical
• piggish
• gluttonous
• hoggish
• egocentric
• piggy
• unquenchable
• voracious
• discontented
• devouring
• unsatisfied
• egotistic
• egoistic
• grudging
• swinish
• itchy
• lickerish
• resentful
• commercialistic
• self-centered
• discontent
• malcontent
• begrudging
• gobbling
• self-seeking
• philistine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• generous
• liberal
• altruistic
• charitable
• handsome
• unselfish
• magnanimous
• munificent
• selfless
• bountiful
• controlled
• bounteous
• unsparing
• restrained
• moderate
• nonmaterialistic
• temperate
• openhanded
• content
• openhearted
• satisfied
• sated
• freehanded
• greathearted

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective avaricious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of avaricious are acquisitive, covetous, grasping, and greedy. While all these words mean "having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions," avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.

an avaricious miser

When is it sensible to use acquisitive instead of avaricious?

Although the words acquisitive and avaricious have much in common, acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep.

an eagerly acquisitive mind

In what contexts can covetous take the place of avaricious?

The words covetous and avaricious can be used in similar contexts, but 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 avaricious?

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 avaricious?

The meanings of greedy and avaricious largely overlap; however, greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire.

greedy for status symbols

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of avaricious

This nation state, my home, is built on a quagmire of lies sold to the young as truths; sold to the insecure as truths; sold by the avaricious, the power-hungry, the conceited, the overwhelmingly white and male. —Christine Winter, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025

Pearce plays Van Buren as hungry and avaricious even in his kinder moments, a man of immense wealth whose primary desire is to own more and more. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025

Few places in the U.S. are more fraught with unresolved tension than South Dakota’s Black Hills, land stolen from the Sioux after treaties had been signed in order for avaricious Americans to pursue gold. —Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 7 July 2024

Ever since the United States liberated Kuwait from the avaricious clutches of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War of 1990-91, the Kuwaitis have supported U.S. priorities in the Middle East and elsewhere. —Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2022