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

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 avaricious Stalin’s apprenticeship in high-stakes diplomacy had shown him to be cunning but also opportunistic, avaricious, obdurate. Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2017 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 To make the situation even worse, many traders were smart, young, risk-loving, and avaricious. Alan S. Blinder, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2015 Code Words Across the centuries, the conspiracy theory of the manipulative, avaricious Jew has worn many faces, from Judas to Shylock to the Rothschilds. Alex Lemonides, New York Times, 9 May 2024 See All Example Sentences for avaricious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avaricious
Adjective
  • As with an apparently solid house, the foundations start to shift, the roof leaks, and greedy neighbors start to encroach on the grounds.
    Margaret MacMillan, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Your ex friends are greedy and deserve to not have you all at their wedding.
    Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • And how to be optimally developmental and transactional in an increasingly mercenary environment.
    Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The prominent credit-card swiper offers 15 minutes for the high price of $15, and the show follows up on the Gemstones’ mercenary shamelessness later when someone working the telethon phone bank asks for a donor’s routing number.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • But unlike in the cases of Depp or Simpson, eager trial watchers will have to rely on courtroom sketches and reporter dispatches from inside, as cameras have been shut out of the proceedings.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • With deep pockets and thousands of eager worshippers hanging on their every word each Sunday, what does their church garb look like?
    Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • Thanks to Jenner’s hundreds of millions of followers on Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media, Jenner had easy and essentially costless access to an acquisitive demographic.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Like other acquisitive companies, the integration of technology was sub-optimal.
    Peter High, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • His approach, on and off the pitch, has had a transformative effect and as Palace seek to secure him on a new contract, there have been covetous glances cast in his direction from clubs in the German Bundesliga.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025
  • For a very long time, other nations have been sizing up California with a covetous eye.
    Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Avaricious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avaricious. Accessed 11 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on avaricious

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