Word forms: comparative greedier, superlative greediest
adjective
If you describe someone as greedy, you mean that they want to have more of something such as food or money than is necessary or fair.
He attacked greedy bosses for awarding themselves big rises.
She is greedy and selfish.
Synonyms: avaricious, grasping, selfish, insatiable More Synonyms of greedy
greedilyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Livy ate the pasties greedily and with huge enjoyment.
More Synonyms of greedy
greedy in British English
(ˈɡriːdɪ)
adjectiveWord forms: greedier or greediest
1.
excessively desirous of food or wealth, esp in large amounts; voracious
2. (postpositive; foll byfor)
eager (for)
a man greedy for success
Derived forms
greedily (ˈgreedily)
adverb
greediness (ˈgreediness)
noun
Word origin
Old English grǣdig; related to Old Norse grāthugr, Gothic grēdags hungry, Old High German grātac
greedy in American English
(ˈgridi)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈgreedier or ˈgreediest
1.
wanting or taking all that one can get, with no thought of others' needs; desiring more than one needs or deserves; avaricious; covetous
2.
having too strong a desire for food and drink; gluttonous; voracious
3.
intensely eager
SYNONYMY NOTE: greedy implies an insatiable desire to possess or acquire something to an amount inordinatelybeyond what one needs or deserves and is the broadest of the terms compared here;, avaricious stresses greed for money or riches and often connotes miserliness; , grasping suggests an unscrupulous eagerness for gain that manifests itself in a seizing uponevery opportunity to get what one desires; , acquisitive stresses the exertion of effort in acquiring or accumulating wealth or material possessionsto an excessive amount; , covetous implies greed for something that another person rightfully possesses
Derived forms
greedily (ˈgreedily)
adverb
greediness (ˈgreediness)
noun
Word origin
ME gredie < OE grædig < base of græd- (in grædum, eagerly) + -ig (see -y2), akin to Goth grēdags, lit., hungry < IE base *ĝher-, to crave > Gr charis, grace, favor
Examples of 'greedy' in a sentence
greedy
She also ushered in a very greedy and selfish society.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This is not just about greedy politicians.
The Sun (2009)
We get bagged for being fat and greedy.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They were just a bunch of greedy men who wanted to empower and enrich themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Two holidays in one sounds a bit greedy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The banks are just being greedy again.
The Sun (2009)
Too many people see barristers as greedy fat cats who are only in it for themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The greedy bankers and greedy politicians are one of a kind.
The Sun (2009)
Perhaps it is greedy to have wanted more.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It might be a hurtful comment but to want compensation is just plain greedy.
The Sun (2008)
The financial crisis is attributed to greedy bankers.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
MPs are greedy and they wanted to take our money.
The Sun (2009)
Introducing new fees or increasing charges is just plain greedy and an easy way to boost profits.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That may be a reaction against greedy bankers but it is disturbing.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We are all greedy for success.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Second, being greedy means bigger tax bills.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Of course he is greedy, selfish and without moral fibre.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We've become a little bit greedy.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Is it so greedy and selfish to strive for great, real friendships?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It's just a bit greedy and a bit naff.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They don't want to appear greedy or grabbing.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
THE brass neck of greedy power companies is beyond belief.
The Sun (2011)
In other languages
greedy
British English: greedy /ˈɡriːdɪ/ ADJECTIVE
Someone who is greedy wants more of something than is necessary or fair.
...greedy bosses who award themselves huge pay rises.
American English: greedy
Arabic: جَشِع
Brazilian Portuguese: ganancioso
Chinese: 贪婪的
Croatian: pohlepan
Czech: nenasytný
Danish: grådig
Dutch: hebzuchtig
European Spanish: avaro
Finnish: ahne
French: cupide
German: gierig
Greek: άπληστος
Italian: avido
Japanese: 欲ばりの
Korean: 욕심 많은
Norwegian: grådig
Polish: chciwy
European Portuguese: ganancioso
Romanian: lacom
Russian: жадный
Latin American Spanish: codicioso
Swedish: girig
Thai: โลภ
Turkish: açgözlü
Ukrainian: жадібний
Vietnamese: tham lam
Chinese translation of 'greedy'
greedy
(ˈɡriːdɪ)
adj
贪(貪)心的 (tānxīn de)
to be greedy for[money, power]贪(貪)图(圖) (tāntú) [affection]渴望 (kěwàng)
1 (adjective)
Definition
having an excessive desire for something, such as food or money
a greedy little boy who ate too many sweets
Synonyms
gluttonous
a selfish, gluttonous and lazy individual
insatiable
an insatiable appetite for stories about the rich and famous
voracious
For their size, stoats are voracious predators.
ravenous
piggish
hoggish
hungry
My friend was hungry, so we went to get some food.
edacious
esurient
gormandizing
2 (adjective)
Definition
having an excessive desire for something, such as food or money
He attacked greedy bosses for awarding themselves big pay rises.
Synonyms
avaricious
I sacrificed my career so that my avaricious brother could succeed.