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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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 Another example is ridicule and mockery of stingy or braggadocious individuals, which keeps greed and bravado in check. — Christopher Von Rueden, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2026 People Are Manipulated, Not Just Systems Phishing and social engineering attacks are launched against potential victims and work by imbuing fear, urgency, greed and curiosity. — Steve Durbin, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026 The absurdist look at greed and climate change, reality and the distorting power of media, feckless world leaders and rapacious billionaires, struggled to get off the ground. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026 Learning that countless more people will lose their lives on account of his neglect, greed, and stupidity, he is pressed, reluctantly, into a most self-serving mode of damage control. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 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

The idea of a child receiving an injection for weight loss strikes at something deep — a desire to let children be children, free from adult burdens.

— Babak J. Orandi, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
His desire echoes that of his boss, BBC Studios Productions chief Zai Bennett, which is to invest in around two to three of these new-look talent labels per year.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Sep. 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

Definition of covetousness

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“Greed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/greed. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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