cupidity

American  

[kyoo-pid-i-tee] / kyuˈpɪd ɪ ti /

noun

1. eager or excessive desire, especially to possess something; greed; avarice.

   Synonyms:

   hunger, avidity, covetousness

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cupidity British  

/ kjuːˈpɪdɪtɪ /

noun

1. strong desire, esp for possessions or money; greed

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Other Word Forms

• cupidinous adjective

Etymology

Origin of cupidity

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English cupidite, (from Middle French or directly from Latin cupiditās, equivalent to cupid(us) “eager, desirous” ( cup(ere) “to desire” + -idus -id ⁴ ) + -itās -ity

Example Sentences

Accessorizing—and the popularization of it—breeds cupidity, to a degree, which has been accentuated by social media, according to research.

From Slate • Jul. 29, 2024

The dribbling of classic works into the public domain every year on Jan. 1 may be gratifying, but it also serves to underscore the stupidity and cupidity of our convoluted copyright system.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2022

The commission explained that public health policies would “protect one set of human beings from being the victims of disease and death through the selfish cupidity of others.”

From New York Times • Oct. 28, 2020

Their cupidity quickly becomes an existential threat to all of the people and things that define the city, condemning them to a subterranean life at the bottom of the void.

From The Verge • Sep. 1, 2018

“O’Dell,” Quentin replied, in all sincerity, “I’m worried that your insatiable cupidity will ultimately prove to be something less than a virtue for our club.”

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam