covetousness

American  

[kuhv-i-tuhs-nis] / ˈkʌv ɪ təs nɪs /

noun

1. eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions.

   Social media so often encourages us to compare ourselves to others, inspiring covetousness and insecurity.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overcovetousness
  noun
• noncovetousness
  noun
• uncovetousness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of covetousness

covetous ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

Covetousness is about as human as it gets.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2021

Then one day last week Covetousness reared its ugly head.

From Time Magazine Archive

Covetousness stands mute, an abashed and haggard youth, amid the stony evidence of his larcenies.

From Time Magazine Archive

Covetousness was a secret sin often indulged when the outward forms of righteousness were observed.

From Usury A Scriptural, Ethical and Economic View by Elliott, Calvin

It was a very ordinary volume, entitled, "A Sermon on Covetousness, a Critical Exposition of the Tenth Commandment by the Rev. Charles Wesley."

From The Unpublishable Memoirs by Rosenbach, A. S. W.