AVARICIOUS Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'avaricious' differ from other similar words?

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. // an avaricious miser

Q: When is it sensible to use 'acquisitive' instead of 'avaricious'?

Although the words acquisitive and avaricious have much in common, acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep. // an eagerly acquisitive mind

Q: In what contexts can 'covetous' take the place of 'avaricious'?

The words covetous and avaricious can be used in similar contexts, but covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions. // covetous of his brother's country estate

Q: How does the word 'grasping' relate to other synonyms for 'avaricious'?

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

Q: When might 'greedy' be a better fit than 'avaricious'?

The meanings of greedy and avaricious largely overlap; however, greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire. // greedy for status symbols

avaricious

adjective

ˌa-və-ˈri-shəs

Definition of avaricious next

as in greedy

having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions an avaricious scheme to con the elderly couple out of thousands of dollars

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How does the adjective avaricious differ from other similar words?

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.

an avaricious miser

When is it sensible to use acquisitive instead of avaricious?

Although the words acquisitive and avaricious have much in common, acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep.

an eagerly acquisitive mind

In what contexts can covetous take the place of avaricious?

The words covetous and avaricious can be used in similar contexts, but covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions.

covetous of his brother's country estate

How does the word grasping relate to other synonyms for avaricious?

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

When might greedy be a better fit than avaricious?

The meanings of greedy and avaricious largely overlap; however, greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire.

greedy for status symbols

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of avaricious To make the situation even worse, many traders were smart, young, risk-loving, and avaricious. —

Alan S. Blinder, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2015 Code Words Across the centuries, the conspiracy theory of the manipulative, avaricious Jew has worn many faces, from Judas to Shylock to the Rothschilds. —

Alex Lemonides, New York Times, 9 May 2024 Some of those efforts struck observers as avaricious, especially in light of the dignified subject matter. —

Clay Risen, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2024 Among their missions: persuading an avaricious finance god (Liev Schreiber) and a rising politician (Succession’s Zoe Winters) to care about climate change. —

Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for avaricious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for avaricious

Adjective

The greedy wizard had an idea to build beautiful hotels and homes.

— Letters to the Editor, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2025
But that’s not the way of most corporate America, despite the endless pushing by greedy bankers and lawyers who don’t have enough work to do to maintain their admittedly lavish lifestyles versus pretty much the rest of the country’s work force.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025