as in greedy
having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions
they were a mercenary couple, who defined themselves not by what they were but by what they owned
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mercenary
In June 2023, Lukashenko presented himself as a peacemaker for helping to end an armed rebellion against Russian military generals led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the mercenary group Wagner.
—
Amalia Huot-Marchand, The Hill, 8 Aug. 2025
The United States seems to be the only major nation that’s in the grip of such mercenary and selfish dogma.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
Straddling the line between space cop, mercenary, and reluctant father, Pascal spends most of the first season fighting for money while also battling his feelings of attachment for this vulnerable, new dependent.
—EW.com, 31 July 2025
Despite Wagner's announcement, Russia will continue to have a mercenary presence in the West African country.
—Arkansas Online, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mercenary
Amalia Huot-Marchand, The Hill, 8 Aug. 2025
The United States seems to be the only major nation that’s in the grip of such mercenary and selfish dogma.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
Straddling the line between space cop, mercenary, and reluctant father, Pascal spends most of the first season fighting for money while also battling his feelings of attachment for this vulnerable, new dependent.
—EW.com, 31 July 2025
Despite Wagner's announcement, Russia will continue to have a mercenary presence in the West African country.
—Arkansas Online, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for mercenary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mercenary
Adjective
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Horizen's greedy leadership, then, is thrilled by the arrival of a cutthroat AI (also played by Daniels, this time in a black wig) willing to maximize profits at any cost.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
26 Aug. 2025
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Given the already substantial spend on incoming transfers, suggesting the club needs more, possibly sending its spending past the $500 million mark, seems absurd, almost greedy.—
James Nalton,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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What started as a one-off Eventbrite invitation to a pop-up called Mic Drop Workshop has, seven years later, grown into the leading pipeline of women speakers ready for the stage; and the first stop for event planners eager to bring more female voices to the mic.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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Head coach Dave Canales, who met with Hooker twice during the pre-draft process, was eager to work with him, and the 27-year-old QB was quick to accept the Panthers’ offer as his official NFL second chance.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Manipulating these obviously very greedy and avaricious [people] is still kind of beneath his skills.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Aug. 2025
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The comedy-drama follows a Gen Z content creator who returns to her ancestral home seeking viral material, only to encounter her deceased brother’s ghost while dealing with avaricious relatives.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Retail e-commerce penetration had surged during the pandemic, which brought a rush of acquisitive capital into the space.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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Banijay has been among the most acquisitive independent TV makers of recent years, and now reportedly has its sights on ITV.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mercenary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mercenary. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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