as in greed
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions
her all-consuming greediness blinded her to the pain she caused others in her drive to get rich
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in grasping
having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions
a young rocker who was greedy for fame and riches the greedy exploitation of the land by developers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ravenous
having a huge appetite
he's so greedy you have to carefully watch your plate during dinner, lest he snatch food off it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excited
showing urgent desire or interest
he's greedy for new assignments that will really challenge him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 greediness
Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 3 July 2025
Though one is a human innovation and the other hails from a distant world, neither would’ve posed a danger had greedy tech barons not released them from the Pandora’s box of scientific progress.
—Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2025
O’ahu, Maui, Kaua’i and the big island of Hawai’i were all joined by water but divided by greedy men, cunning chiefs and a cycle of endless combat.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 1 Aug. 2025
Followers want leaders who demonstrate trust, are honest, who aren’t obviously self-serving and greedy at the expense of others, and who demonstrate humility.
—Dave Winsborough, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for greediness
Adjective
And unlike the societal tone that often depicts billionaires as greedy, Bridgeman lived his life as an antithesis to this, showing up in kindness which was fed by his faith.
—Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 3 July 2025
Though one is a human innovation and the other hails from a distant world, neither would’ve posed a danger had greedy tech barons not released them from the Pandora’s box of scientific progress.
—Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2025
O’ahu, Maui, Kaua’i and the big island of Hawai’i were all joined by water but divided by greedy men, cunning chiefs and a cycle of endless combat.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 1 Aug. 2025
Followers want leaders who demonstrate trust, are honest, who aren’t obviously self-serving and greedy at the expense of others, and who demonstrate humility.
—Dave Winsborough, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for greediness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for greediness
Noun
-
At trial, prosecutors argued the brothers acted out of greed, eager to secure their parents' multimillion-dollar estate.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Yes, Christian ska: Sprung from a small subgenre within a narrow musical niche, Five Iron Frenzy are longtime favorites among fans of Christian ska, singing songs filled with indignation about how faith has been used as a cudgel for greed and prejudice.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The imperial Presidency: Designs on Greenland, promises to take back the Panama Canal, threats of tariffs on countries ranging from Colombia to Taiwan—how did a President who once pledged isolationism become so grasping?—
Ian Crouch,
The New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Multiplied across numerous markets in every state, the LIHTC fuels more and more grasping for cash instead of reductions to make housing easier to create.—
Roger Valdez,
Forbes,
6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
For seven years, Michael Polsky has been trying to build a high-voltage power line from the windswept prairies of Kansas to the ravenous electrical grids of the Midwest and East Coast.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
-
The one 49ers player who was perhaps hardest hit by the ravenous injury bug was running back Christian McCaffrey.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
A lot of fans and people in tennis are excited about (João) Fonseca.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Takeaway: What would a party look like in your context — one that potential customers would be excited about?—
Jed Brewer,
Rolling Stone,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
For most players, that amount of storage is realistically enough for all but the most covetous data hoarders.—
Matt Kamen,
Wired News,
3 Aug. 2025
-
This is, in part, correct: Voldemort is extremely covetous of power.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
People are hungry for the retelling of the old stories.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Outsmart hungry deer with this stunning plant collection featuring bold blooms and elegant foliage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The origins of the Dukes ball date back to 1760, when shoemaker and avid cricketer Timothy Duke established Duke & Sons and began making cricket balls as a cottage industry at Penshurst in Kent.—
James Wallace,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Having been an avid thrifter since her childhood, Nagel has found some incredible pieces in the past, but this one is certainly near the top of her list.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Millennials are aged 29 to 44 years old this year and are in a highly acquisitive life stage – getting married, starting families and buying first homes.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
In some ways Starbucks created a high-end coffee market for the increasingly acquisitive population, but as opposed to capturing it all, the thousands and thousands of Starbucks stores on the mainland created the opportunity for others to profitably enter the market.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Greediness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/greediness. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share