avaricious
adjective
Synonyms
- acquisitive
- avid
- coveting
- covetous
- grabby
- grasping
- greedy
- mercenary
- moneygrubbing
- rapacious
Example Sentences
Wired, 8 July 2022 Named for Queen Victoria, the road traced the shoreline of an avaricious colonial power. New York Times, 30 June 2022 For decades, this Southern California archetype — conspiratorial, bigoted and avaricious — helped transform the party of Lincoln into the dumpster fire of today. Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2022 Due to a combination of shortages and avaricious sellers, many prospectors were forced to trade gold for potatoes. David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 12 June 2022 New-vehicle shortages provide cover for automakers to raise MSRPs, particularly since many of their more avaricious dealer partners have already demonstrated, via their markups, buyers' willingness to pay. Joe Lorio, Car and Driver, 23 Feb. 2022 Sport has, again, provided us with clarity as to what is happening in the world, with the avaricious corruption of young female skaters front and center. Amy Bass, CNN, 20 Feb. 2022 Tuesday Weld was seen regularly as the beautiful, avaricious Thalia Menninger, the financially unattainable object of Dobie’s affections; Warren Beatty had a recurring role early in the run as a blue-blood classmate. Margalit Fox, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2022 The subtext in his words are clear: Morten and Campbell couldn't get a new project off the ground within the confines of an avaricious Activision boardroom. Luke Winkie, Wired, 11 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
see avarice
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
avaricious
adjective
avaricious
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- greedy
- acquisitive
- covetous
- mercenary
- eager
- desirous
- rapacious
- grasping
- coveting
- avid
- moneygrubbing
- materialistic
- grabby
- miserly
- insatiable
- piggish
- discontented
- gluttonous
- ravenous
- egocentric
- discontent
- voracious
- egotistical
- egotistic
- egoistical
- hoggish
- piggy
- unquenchable
- egoistic
- swinish
- unsatisfied
- devouring
- lickerish
- philistine
- resentful
- itchy
- self-centered
- gobbling
- malcontent
- commercialistic
- grudging
- self-seeking
- begrudging
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- altruistic
- generous
- magnanimous
- unselfish
- liberal
- charitable
- munificent
- handsome
- selfless
- bountiful
- bounteous
- unsparing
- controlled
- restrained
- moderate
- nonmaterialistic
- openhanded
- temperate
- openhearted
- satisfied
- content
- sated
- freehanded
- greathearted
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of avaricious are acquisitive, covetous, grasping, and greedy. While all these words mean "having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions," avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.
Although the words acquisitive and avaricious have much in common, acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep.
The words covetous and avaricious can be used in similar contexts, but covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions.
Grasping adds to covetous and greedy an implication of selfishness and often suggests unfair or ruthless means.
The meanings of greedy and avaricious largely overlap; however, greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire.