GREED Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

greed

noun

ˈgrēd

Definition of greed

as in avarice

an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions don't let greed for riches control you

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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 greed For all the tectonic shifts in college sports, for the nonsensical new national conferences, for the greed and growing pains spurred by pay for play, there was no one more ready to meet this moment than Close. — Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026 In his latest romp, corporate greed, lovable cows and hideous monsters converge in Richland, Ohio. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026 But he was plagued by guilt over his ancestor’s role in the trials, and felt compelled to explore themes of human character, greed, and social decay through his work. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026 The term has since become a shorthand for antisemitic depictions of greed and has been condemned for elevating offensive stereotypes about Jewish people. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for greed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for greed

Noun

The billions from the public treasury have resulted in profits beyond the dreams of avarice.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Wolfe’s The Bonfire of the Vanities explores greed, avarice and racial divisions between the haves and have nots in 1980s New York City.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of avarice

Noun

Sudan’s civil war, a conflict credibly described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, has seen violence matched only by the belligerents’ rapacity in pillaging the country’s riches.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
This variation of socialism aimed to blunt the rapacity of capitalism rather than sharpen its contradictions and hasten the coming revolution.

— Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

Definition of rapacity

Noun

Many critics of such wanton cosmic acquisitiveness balk at the idea of scarcely regulated private-sector lunar strip-mining.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 14 May 2026
Following too closely in its protagonist’s footsteps, The Queen of Versailles presents only two options — tough but spiritually fulfilling material deprivation or unconstrained acquisitiveness.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025

Definition of acquisitiveness

Noun

Most accounts of the era blame greed—a new ethic of cupidity that displaced whatever youthful idealism remained from the 1960s.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
The stories of corporate cupidity and stupidity are perhaps more relevant now with technology discrupting markets.

— Frank Racioppi, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2026

Definition of cupidity

Noun

In the wake of tragedy and separation, she is lost, wary of the immensity and opacity of her desire; anger crouches inside her, too, a fact that her divorce made mercilessly clear to her.

— Jamie Hood, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2026
These papers have hosted the voices of those who have parsed out the details of how Newsom’s across-the-board commutations are legally suspect in various ways, and indeed argued that Newsom is undermining the desires of Californians.

— Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026

Definition of desire

Noun

And yet his movie is mischievously multi-layered enough that the idea of covetousness does open up heady new seams of interpretation.

— Jessica Kiang, Variety, 6 Sep. 2026
Simple fasting from food can be ruined — rendered not pleasing to Allah — if spoiled by telling lies, slander, denouncing someone behind his back, swearing a false oath, greed or covetousness.

— The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026