covetous
adjective
cov·et·ous ˈkə-və-təs 
1
: marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another's possessions
He looked at his boss's new car with covetous eyes.
2
: having a craving for possession
covetous of power
covetously adverb
covetousness noun
Synonyms
- acquisitive
- avaricious
- avid
- coveting
- grabby
- grasping
- greedy
- mercenary
- moneygrubbing
- rapacious
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The expensive car drew many covetous looks. one aggressive bargain hunter rushed to make a covetous grab for the last marked-down TV
Recent Examples on the Web Once Lexington wins his first race, Harry’s ownership gives covetous White horsemen the necessary leverage to take the animal from him. 
Maggie Shipstead, Washington Post, 17 June 2022 That is, unless covetous bidders don’t have something else in mind. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 23 May 2022 In her grief, Lennie abandons her musical pursuits (leaving her school-band solos to the covetous queen bee Rachel, played by Julia Schlaepfer). Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2022 Whatever their covetous neighbors say, Taiwan and Ukraine have the essential features of independent nationhood. Christopher Demuth, WSJ, 4 Feb. 2022 Conventional wisdom is that corporations cannot innovate because executives are too covetous of their profits to risk pursuing unproven ideas. Andy Binns, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2022 In Punjab, even under the British, families like Sohel’s kept up connections in the underworld, just to make sure that covetous eyes were not unduly drawn to their property and treasure. Cressida Leysho, The New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2021 The Bears are casting a covetous glance at a 326-acre parcel of revenue-spinning potential that lies near two interstate highways and a Metra station. John Keilman, chicagotribune.com, 19 June 2021 Because works by Mark Rothko, Jeff Koons and, yes, Leonardo da Vinci, now fetch enormously high prices, museums and municipalities are turning to the finest of fine art with covetous eyes and thinning pocketbooks. Michael Granberry, Dallas News, 12 Mar. 2021 See More
Maggie Shipstead, Washington Post, 17 June 2022 That is, unless covetous bidders don’t have something else in mind. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 23 May 2022 In her grief, Lennie abandons her musical pursuits (leaving her school-band solos to the covetous queen bee Rachel, played by Julia Schlaepfer). Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2022 Whatever their covetous neighbors say, Taiwan and Ukraine have the essential features of independent nationhood. Christopher Demuth, WSJ, 4 Feb. 2022 Conventional wisdom is that corporations cannot innovate because executives are too covetous of their profits to risk pursuing unproven ideas. Andy Binns, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2022 In Punjab, even under the British, families like Sohel’s kept up connections in the underworld, just to make sure that covetous eyes were not unduly drawn to their property and treasure. Cressida Leysho, The New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2021 The Bears are casting a covetous glance at a 326-acre parcel of revenue-spinning potential that lies near two interstate highways and a Metra station. John Keilman, chicagotribune.com, 19 June 2021 Because works by Mark Rothko, Jeff Koons and, yes, Leonardo da Vinci, now fetch enormously high prices, museums and municipalities are turning to the finest of fine art with covetous eyes and thinning pocketbooks. Michael Granberry, Dallas News, 12 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
see covet
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
covetous
adjective
cov·et·ous ˈkə-vət-əs
: having or showing too much desire for wealth or possessions or for something belonging to another person
covetous
adjective
1
as in greedy
having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions one aggressive bargain hunter rushed to make a covetous grab for the last marked-down TV Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- greedy
- avaricious
- coveting
- acquisitive
- desirous
- eager
- mercenary
- grasping
- avid
- rapacious
- grabby
- moneygrubbing
- materialistic
- discontented
- insatiable
- gluttonous
- ravenous
- miserly
- discontent
- piggish
- egocentric
- unquenchable
- unsatisfied
- devouring
- hoggish
- lickerish
- voracious
- egotistical
- resentful
- egotistic
- swinish
- itchy
- grudging
- piggy
- egoistical
- gobbling
- egoistic
- begrudging
- commercialistic
- self-centered
- philistine
- malcontent
- self-seeking
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- generous
- handsome
- magnanimous
- altruistic
- unselfish
- charitable
- liberal
- selfless
- bountiful
- bounteous
- munificent
- restrained
- unsparing
- openhanded
- satisfied
- temperate
- controlled
- nonmaterialistic
- moderate
- openhearted
- content
- sated
- greathearted
- freehanded
2
as in jealous
having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages a covetous child who must destroy what he cannot have Synonyms & Similar Words
- jealous
- envious
- resentful
- greedy
- invidious
- avaricious
- malicious
- jaundiced
- green-eyed
- green with envy
- suspicious
- grudging
- grasping
- spiteful
- begrudging
- eating one's heart out
- rapacious
- petty
- distrustful
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- generous
- unenvious
- altruistic
- benevolent
- kind
- charitable
- kindhearted
- well-meaning
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of covetous are acquisitive, avaricious, grasping, and greedy. While all these words mean "having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions," covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions.
covetous of his brother's country estate
The meanings of acquisitive and covetous largely overlap; however, acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep.
an eagerly acquisitive mind
The words avaricious and covetous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.
an avaricious miser
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
The synonyms greedy and covetous are sometimes interchangeable, but greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire.
greedy for status symbols
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- full-size