gold digger

noun

variants or less commonly gold-digger
1
: one who digs for gold
2
: a person whose romantic pursuit of, relationship with, or marriage to a wealthy person is primarily or solely motivated by a desire for money
Whether you're dating a potential gold digger or are surrounded by friends who are constantly asking for handouts, you'll want to protect your money from those kinds of drains.Kimberly Palmer
For years, it has almost always played out like this: A woman accuses a famous man of harassment, and that famous man calls her a liar. The media reports it, expensive lawyers rush in to also call the woman a liar and maybe a gold digger and maybe worse …Nina Burleigh
To deflect the impression that he was a gold digger par excellence, Bingham renounced any claim on his new wife's fortune.Richard Kluger
gold-digging adjective
a gold-digging opportunist

Examples of gold digger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Many people see them as gold diggers, trading off their beauty — and perhaps more — for profit. Emma Bubola, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2024 When [my husband] Todd and I got together, the ‘gold digger’ commentary started. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 18 Sep. 2024 Most of the women are gold diggers or interested only in hookups. Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 1 July 2024 His melancholy widower ends up being tormented by a conniving gold digger (Kathleen Turner) while also falling in love with a disembodied brain (voiced by Sissy Spacek) being stored in the lab of a mad scientist (David Warner). Will Leitch, Vulture, 29 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gold digger 

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gold digger was in 1826

Dictionary Entries Near gold digger

Cite this Entry

“Gold digger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gold%20digger. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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