as in greed
disapproving
the practice or attitude of placing an excessive emphasis on earning money, making a profit, or buying goods
the increasing commercialism of the Christmas holiday She decried the commercialism of modern society where objects of purely artistic value were often ignored.
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Recent Examples of commercialism
Crass commercialism helped transform the Olympics into a multibillion-dollar behemoth from the quaint sports festival seen when Paris last hosted 100 years ago.
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Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 26 July 2024
Fleming also addressed potential conflicts, such as the art world’s discomfort with commercialism as well as the importance of maintaining clear distinctions between art exhibits and commercial promotions.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 15 Dec. 2024
Travel Tuesday could be considered commercialism’s latest lovechild, but the new holiday booking spree is also representative of consumers' desires to spend money on experiences instead of physical belongings.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Nov. 2024
That doesn’t mean the Games aren’t filled with commercialism aimed at maximizing profits and sharing little of the riches with the athletes.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for commercialism 
Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 26 July 2024
Fleming also addressed potential conflicts, such as the art world’s discomfort with commercialism as well as the importance of maintaining clear distinctions between art exhibits and commercial promotions.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 15 Dec. 2024
Travel Tuesday could be considered commercialism’s latest lovechild, but the new holiday booking spree is also representative of consumers' desires to spend money on experiences instead of physical belongings.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Nov. 2024
That doesn’t mean the Games aren’t filled with commercialism aimed at maximizing profits and sharing little of the riches with the athletes.
—Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for commercialism
Thesaurus Entries Near commercialism
Cite this Entry
“Commercialism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commercialism. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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