greed

noun

ˈgrēd How to pronounce greed (audio)
Definition of greednext
as in avarice
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions don't let greed for riches control you

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 greed During the trial, prosecutors argued the brothers’ motive for killing their parents was rooted in greed — centered on access to their parents’ multimillion-dollar estate. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2025 Schwarz sees the blackout as a way for Americans to use their economic might in the form of their purchasing power to fight corporate greed and corrupt politicians. — Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2025 Prosecutors at the time argued during their trial that the two brothers killed their parents because of greed and cited their lavish spending spree after the slayings. — Christine Pelisek, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025 But instead of saying this is a small price to pay for cleaner air, the state’s most powerful politicians take turns denouncing Big Oil’s greed. — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for greed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for greed
  1. avarice
  2. rapacity
  3. cupidity
  4. desire
  5. hunger
  6. thirst
  7. appetite
Noun
  • The public's reaction to his killing has highlighted the avarice and inequality that many Americans believe is at the root of the country's health care system, Axios' Ivana Saric writes.
    — Sareen Habeshian, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024
  • In this coming era—during which fear, corruption, and avarice will stand in prominence—gentleness, morality, and reason must be cherished in whatever form they can be found.
    — The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2025
Definition of avarice
Noun
  • Or consider the explorers who left a cold and hungry Europe in search of tropical riches, only to realize that their own rapacity could quickly exhaust the bounty of an island paradise.
    — Deborah R. Coen, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2014
  • Adjacent to the Gold Room was the Bravo Bazaar, a mall of real commercial rapacity.
    — Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
Definition of rapacity
Noun
  • Pilgrimage, though couched in spiritual aims, often bordered on sheer cupidity.
    — Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023
  • To cupidity, and beyond!
    — Kyle Smith, WSJ, 16 June 2022
Definition of cupidity
Noun
  • Mister Romantic may be an equal-opportunity flirt, but there’s no carnal undercurrent to his desires.
    — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The fact that the session is filmed for consumption by the very public Alec claims to want to avoid does seem at cross-purposes with his expressed desire.
    — Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of desire
Noun
  • Thank wars, confusion and a hunger for sunlight Opinion Opinion: Pinnacol Assurance needs changes to continue workers’ compensation coverage at a competitive rate Pinnacol Assurance is currently standing at a crossroads.
    — The Denver Post, The Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Head coach Connor Brickley credited his team’s drive and hunger to return to TD Garden as motivating factors.
    — Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of hunger
Noun
  • So my first piece of advice to young designers is to have that thirst to understand the business as a whole.
    — Joelle Diderich, WWD, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Soon after, my thirst for adventure grew, and my job provided me with opportunities to explore chilly waters around the world, turning it into my personal mission to tackle as many cold water swims as possible.
    — Alexandra Pereira, Travel + Leisure, 24 Feb. 2025
Definition of thirst
Noun
  • In addition, exposing millions of kids to less sweet (not to mention organic) drinks helps cultivate an appetite for less sweet drinks that can create long-term health benefits.
    — Seth Goldman, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2025
  • One such effort, Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking has already been a ratings success, proving yet again there is still an appetite for the IP.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of appetite

Browse Nearby Words

greed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Greed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/greed. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on greed

Nglish: Translation of greed for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All