GREEDY Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

greedy

adjective

ˈgrē-dē

Definition of greedy

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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 Her former research partner has absconded with her life’s work, presumably to put toward greedy human means of Manifest Destiny. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026 Digger follows greedy, careless Digger as his company inadvertently catalyzes a disaster with global repercussions—then, whoopsie, sets off another for good measure. — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026 Of course, more collaboration means broader deal-making and, this being Canada, producers and potential international partners are warned not to greedy or short-sighted, but to think long term. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026 Anyone who stands in front of De Kooning’s urgent, sensuously greedy drawings, with their writhing contours, cacophonous colors, and perverse processes, can feel the force of that craving. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for greedy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for greedy

Adjective

Starring Elordi and Barry Keoghan, Fennell’s dark comedy about class resentment and covetous destruction was sold on the promise of erotic excess.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026
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

Definition of covetous

Adjective

Though the company is still throwing off bundles of cash, the profits aren’t good enough for a ravenous Wall Street, and the blood of 1,000 staff has been let as Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters attempt to change the record.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
Right now, the market appears to be telling us that the kindergartner is ravenous and investing for the next 10 years could come with some considerable risk.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of ravenous

Adjective

We are excited by the prospect of evolving the Festival beyond what people have come to expect.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026
Layer in Musk's visionary nature and ability to get investors excited, and you're left with an earnings conference call that should be considered required reading for any market participant.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of excited

Adjective

Advertisement As a result, many older users who may have only had glancing interactions with AI have become avid users.

— Andrew R. Chow, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
For avid safari-goers, this is a particularly great spot to learn more about the initiatives and efforts that go into conservation work for specific wildlife.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of avid

Adjective

A week later, however, the win-hungry Jayhawks did manage to solve Baylor’s winning ways versus KU courtesy of a thrilling 25-24 come-from-behind Homecoming Day victory over the Bears on Saturday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
So putting SpaceX and Tesla together unites two companies that are super-hungry for cash.

— Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of hungry

Adjective

But footage obtained by OutKick portrayed a different story, including a handshake with an enthusiastic Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.

— Ryan Morik , Preston Mizell OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Wall Street has been enthusiastic about the separation, which is designed to unlock the value of each group of assets and is likely to generate M&A interest.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of enthusiastic

Adjective

But for an acquisitive current occupant of the White House, the oldest continuously active musical organization hasn’t seemed enough.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
All this acquisitive activity has turned the majority of physicians into employees rather than independent operators.

— Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

Definition of acquisitive

Adjective

Unfurling through the grand midcentury Grill room was a snaking, glamorously gluttonous serpentine buffet that stretched from entrance to their 20-foot tall windows.

— Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026
America’s Semiquincentennial was celebrated across the country this summer with big, dumb, gluttonous fun.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of gluttonous

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“Greedy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/greedy. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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