avarice
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of avarice
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin avāritia, equivalent to avār(us) “greedy” + -itia -ice
Explanation
Avarice is a fancy word for good old-fashioned greed. It's one of what some call "the seven deadly sins." Do you want more and more money? Or cookies? Or video games? Or anything? Then your heart is full of avarice, which you probably know better as greed. When people talk about greed, it's clearly not a good thing, but avarice has an even worse flavor to it. Avarice is often looked upon as a sin, and it's always considered despicable and evil.
Vocabulary lists containing avarice
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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A Christmas Carol
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The book, "Avarice", was also at the center of what media dubbed a "Vatileaks" trial into the leaking of church documents.
From Reuters • Mar. 31, 2016
The two books published last month, Avarice by Emanuele Fittipaldi and Merchants in the Temple by Gianluigi Nuzzi, paint a picture of clergy greed and financial waste.
From BBC • Dec. 7, 2015
First, a pair of optional commentary tracks feature Mr. Oyelowo, Miss DuVernay, Director of Photography Bradford Young, and Editor Spencer Avarice as they discuss the production.
From Washington Times • May 5, 2015
The first purchase under Operation Avarice, according to veterans and officials familiar with the effort, occurred in early September 2005, when an Iraqi man provided a single Borak.
From New York Times • Feb. 15, 2015
Beneath is Justice, brandishing a golden sword and scales, standing between Death and Punishment, and treading underfoot Avarice and Envy, the gods of the merchants.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
