COVETOUS Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of covetous are acquisitive , avaricious , grasping , and greedy . While all these words 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

Q: Where would 'acquisitive' be a reasonable alternative to 'covetous'?

The meanings of acquisitive and covetous largely overlap; however, acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep. // an eagerly acquisitive mind

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

The words avaricious and covetous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess. // an avaricious miser

Q: How is 'grasping' related to other words for 'covetous'?

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 is it sensible to use 'greedy' instead of 'covetous'?

The synonyms greedy and covetous are sometimes interchangeable, but greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire. // greedy for status symbols

covetous

adjective

ˈkə-və-təs

Definition of covetous next

as in greedy

having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions one aggressive bargain hunter rushed to make a covetous grab for the last marked-down TV

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in jealous

having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages a covetous child who must destroy what he cannot have

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the adjective covetous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of covetous are acquisitive, avaricious, grasping, and greedy. While all these words 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

Where would acquisitive be a reasonable alternative to covetous?

The meanings of acquisitive and covetous largely overlap; however, acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep.

an eagerly acquisitive mind

In what contexts can avaricious take the place of covetous?

The words avaricious and covetous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.

an avaricious miser

How is grasping related to other words for covetous?

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 is it sensible to use greedy instead of covetous?

The synonyms greedy and covetous are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 covetous Photo : Mercedes-Benz AG This is a vehicle that is at once a capacious hauler of humans, a covetous lifestyle accessory, and a wildly competent militaristic transport. —

Brett Berk, Robb Report, 13 May 2024 As Céline launches a charm offensive — a kind of maternal seduction, even — on the boy, Alice grows ever more anxiously protective: Is her bereft neighbor merely seeking an outlet for her grief, or enacting some kind of covetous revenge? —

Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Mar. 2024 In a typical dispatch for The Church Times, about St. Matthew, Mr. Blythe wrote: Not for us covetous desires and inordinate love of riches. —

Clay Risen, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2023 Carol Foyler, who lives in Akron, Ohio, was openly covetous of the U.K.’s malignant narcissist. —

Andy Borowitz, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2022 See all Example Sentences for covetous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for covetous

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