avaricious

adjective

av·​a·​ri·​cious ˌa-və-ˈri-shəs 

: greedy of gain : excessively acquisitive especially in seeking to hoard riches

avaricious land-grabbers

avariciously adverb

avariciousness noun

Synonyms

• acquisitive
• avid
• coveting
• covetous
• grabby
• grasping
• greedy
• mercenary
• moneygrubbing
• rapacious

Choose the Right Synonym for avaricious

covetous, greedy, acquisitive, grasping, avaricious 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

greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire.

greedy for status symbols

acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep.

an eagerly acquisitive mind

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

avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.

an avaricious miser

Examples of avaricious in a Sentence

an avaricious scheme to con the elderly couple out of thousands of dollars

Recent Examples on the Web

Ever since the United States liberated Kuwait from the avaricious clutches of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War of 1990-91, the Kuwaitis have supported U.S. priorities in the Middle East and elsewhere. —Martin Indyk, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2022

Stalin’s apprenticeship in high-stakes diplomacy had shown him to be cunning but also opportunistic, avaricious, obdurate. —Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2017

Few places in the U.S. are more fraught with unresolved tension than South Dakota’s Black Hills, land stolen from the Sioux after treaties had been signed in order for avaricious Americans to pursue gold. —Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 7 July 2024

To make the situation even worse, many traders were smart, young, risk-loving, and avaricious. —Alan S. Blinder, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2015

Word History

Etymology

see avarice

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

avaricious

adjective

av·​a·​ri·​cious ˌav-ə-ˈrish-əs 

: greedy for riches

avariciously adverb

avariciousness noun