covetous

American  

[kuhv-i-tuhs] / ˈkʌv ɪ təs /

adjective

1. inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy.

   Synonyms:

   rapacious, grasping

2. eagerly desirous.

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covetous British  

/ ˈkʌvɪtəs /

adjective

1. jealously eager for the possession of something (esp the property of another person)

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Related Words

See avaricious.

Other Word Forms

• covetously adverb
• covetousness noun
• noncovetous adjective
• noncovetously adverb
• overcovetous adjective
• overcovetously adverb
• uncovetous adjective
• uncovetously adverb

Etymology

Origin of covetous

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English coveitous, from Anglo-French, Old French; covet, -ous

Example Sentences

His covetous comments about Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, deepened concerns.

From The Wall Street Journal

With a parting glance at the Hixby’s Guide—did Penelope imagine it, or was it a longing, greedy, covetous sort of glance?—he left.

From Literature

For a very long time, other nations have been sizing up California with a covetous eye.

From Los Angeles Times

Hammons seems like the victor in his attempt to satirize not so much the transaction of art for dollars but the covetous, oblivious, entitled nature of certain transactors.

From New York Times

In yoga, I watched, covetous and profusely sweating, as people around me in class pointed their toes skyward and inverted.

From Salon