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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 mercenary
When confronting the failures of corporate medicine, reversing the disastrous course of the mercenary business model built on the suffering of Americans requires a revolutionary approach.
—
David Marks, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for mercenary
David Marks, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for mercenary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mercenary
Adjective
-
Suddenly, Mickey is offering him a chance to play the main stage, which sets Sam’s greedier instincts into overdrive.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
13 Sep. 2025
-
But his greedy schemes and her desire to keep her dog immortal led to the downfall of her once-thriving business and turned her into a woman on the run.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
These water signs are adaptable and eager team players, so help siblings dress up as a school of fish or as a peppy cheer squad that will bring everyone’s feelings up.—
Ella Cerón,
Parents,
16 Sep. 2025
-
As always, Fonda was eager to gush about Redford’s looks, charm and shared interests.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Manipulating these obviously very greedy and avaricious [people] is still kind of beneath his skills.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Aug. 2025
-
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
-
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
-
Cybersecurity providers are becoming more acquisitive, with some looking to offer a full platform of products to customers that are seeking to save money by reducing vendors.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mercenary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mercenary. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share