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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective greedy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of greedy are acquisitive, avaricious, covetous, and grasping. While all these words mean "having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions," greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire.

greedy for status symbols

When is it sensible to use acquisitive instead of greedy?

In some situations, the words acquisitive and greedy are roughly equivalent. However, acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep.

an eagerly acquisitive mind

When is avaricious a more appropriate choice than greedy?

The words avaricious and greedy can be used in similar contexts, but avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.

an avaricious miser

Where would covetous be a reasonable alternative to greedy?

The meanings of covetous and greedy largely overlap; however, 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 greedy?

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

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 greedy Even better, there are temperature-regulating double duvets, providing individualized comfort for couples sharing a bed with even the greediest blanket hogs (guilty). Alisha Prakash, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2025 They weren’t built by the government, but rather by those evil greedy private corporations and individuals who are guilty of the heinous crime of providing millions of Americans with places to live. The Editors, National Review, 30 June 2025 The backdrop of the Marcos dictatorship shaped her artistic approach, defined by an interest in quotidian experience—including everyday injustices such as gender inequality and the ecological exploitation of the Philippines by greedy conglomerates. Hung Duong, Artforum, 18 June 2025 But Mauricio then caught himself, not wanting to sound too greedy. Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for greedy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for greedy
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
  • With all that room to cook, this gourmet grill can accommodate both ravenous solo diners or hungry families alike.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 July 2025
  • Anyone who dared challenge the prevailing narrative faced the wrath of a ravenous cancel culture.
    David Oliver, USA Today, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • Our family couldn’t be more excited to welcome baby #3 soon!
    Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 26 July 2025
  • While some seemed excited about Buck's sudden appearance, some speculated about the possibility of Stephanopoulos leaving the show.
    Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • This is, in part, correct: Voldemort is extremely covetous of power.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
  • Image Meet Me at the Crossroads by Megan Giddings The sudden appearance of seven mysterious doors across the world draws attention from religious sects, covetous billionaires and everyday people who speculate over what lies on the other side.
    Laura Thompson, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Milwaukee Brewers fans are hungry for a 12th consecutive victory -- and a free George Webb’s burger.
    Sofia Joseph, jsonline.com, 22 July 2025
  • But the scene also looms large for young Ruth: Maria’s earrings represent the mysterious world of adults, one that Ruth is hungry to learn more about.
    Bekah Waalkes, The Atlantic, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • The center is named after MaryAnn Wright, chair of the Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit Board of Directors and an avid supporter and significant donor to the organization.
    Ava Nightingale, Freep.com, 18 July 2025
  • According to several tributes online and a GoFundMe, Stewart was a former marine biologist who was an avid outdoors enthusiast.
    Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 18 July 2025
Adjective
  • While Waze once again doesn’t charge anyone for usage and directions, how people use it along with when and where people go with it is surely valuable to businesses eager to meet and lead the needs of an acquisitive public.
    John Tamny, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • The competitive battle for smaller players continued into the early 1960s until antitrust laws curtailed the acquisitive sprees.
    Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Adjective
  • Along the way, the administration recast the U.S. commitment to European security from a mutually beneficial partnership to a sucker’s game that enabled gluttonous free-riding at Americans’ expense.
    Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs, 23 June 2025
  • And there's history of the market going from existential panic to exhilarating audacity in a blink, such as when the 1998 near-bear market on hedge-fund blowups reversed to give way to the gluttonous risk binge of 1999.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 9 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Greedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/greedy. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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