greedy

[ gree-dee ]
See synonyms for greedy on Thesaurus.com
adjective,greed·i·er, greed·i·est.
  1. excessively or inordinately desirous of wealth, profit, etc.; avaricious: the greedy owners of the company.

  2. having a strong or great desire for food or drink.

  1. keenly desirous; eager (often followed by of or for): greedy for praise.

Origin of greedy

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English gredy, Old English grædig; cognate with Old Norse grāthugr, Gothic gredags

synonym study For greedy

1, 3. See avaricious, greed.

Other words for greedy

Opposites for greedy

Other words from greedy

  • greed·i·ly, adverb
  • greed·i·ness, noun
  • o·ver·greed·i·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·greed·i·ness, noun
  • o·ver·greed·y, adjective
  • un·greed·y, adjective

Words Nearby greedy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use greedy in a sentence

  • The mother played her accompaniments and at the same time watched her daughter with greedy admiration and nervous apprehension.

  • Whenever he visited the garden he told everybody that he should never come there again because Grandfather Mole was too greedy.

    The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott Bailey
  • Though this may be accounted for by the fact that he was a greedy reader—of any and every thing which came his way.

    Dorothy at Skyrie | Evelyn Raymond
  • Madame Malmaison knew it also, but the hard look on her greedy face did not soften.

    The Weight of the Crown | Fred M. White
  • With a mind greedy after all manner of information, he had not omitted to inquire closely into ecclesiastical matters.

    The English Church in the Eighteenth Century | Charles J. Abbey and John H. Overton

British Dictionary definitions for greedy

greedy

/ (ˈɡriːdɪ) /


adjectivegreedier or greediest
  1. excessively desirous of food or wealth, esp in large amounts; voracious

  2. (postpositive foll by for) eager (for): a man greedy for success

Origin of greedy

1
Old English grǣdig; related to Old Norse grāthugr, Gothic grēdags hungry, Old High German grātac

Derived forms of greedy

  • greedily, adverb
  • greediness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012