avarice

[ av-er-is ]
See synonyms for avarice on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. insatiable greed for riches; inordinate, miserly desire to gain and hoard wealth.

Origin of avarice

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin avāritia, equivalent to avār(us) “greedy” + -itia -ice

Other words for avarice

Words Nearby avarice

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

How to use avarice in a sentence

  • avarice will likely bring a politician down, unless the pol can be portrayed as a champion of the little guy or a cause.

  • Greater mischiefs happen often from folly, meanness, and vanity than from the greater sins of avarice and ambition.

    Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. Ballou
  • His avarice was disgusting beyond words, and with avarice went a tendency to underhand dealing, harshness, and malice.

    Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
  • Thus age and avarice can always over-leap barriers which, to the young and romantic, are insurmountable.

    The World Before Them | Susanna Moodie
  • When anger, avarice, and concupiscence convulse the peace of thy soul, look up to this star and call on Mary.

  • Then go, miserable wretch,” said the trooper, relinquishing his grasp; “either avarice or delusion has led a noble heart astray!

    The Spy | J. Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for avarice

avarice

/ (ˈævərɪs) /


noun
  1. extreme greed for riches; cupidity

Origin of avarice

1
C13: from Old French, from Latin avaritia, from avārus covetous, from avēre to crave

Derived forms of avarice

  • avaricious, adjective
  • avariciously, adverb
  • avariciousness, 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