greed

[greed]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR greed ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.

Origin of greed

First recorded in 1600–10; back formation from greedy

Related formsgreed·less, adjectivegreed·some, adjective

Synonyms for greed

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR greed ON THESAURUS.COM

avarice, avidity, cupidity, covetousness; voracity, ravenousness, rapacity. Greed, greediness denote an excessive, extreme desire for something, often more than one's proper share. Greed means avid desire for gain or wealth (unless some other application is indicated) and is definitely uncomplimentary in implication: His greed drove him to exploit his workers. Greediness, when unqualified, suggests a craving for food; it may, however, be applied to all avid desires, and need not be always uncomplimentary: greediness for knowledge, fame, praise.

Antonyms for greed

generosity.

gree

[gree]

verb (used with or without object), greed, gree·ing. British Dialect.

agree.

Origin of gree

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at gree²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for greed

longing, hunger, avarice, excess, selfishness, gluttony, edacity, covetousness, indulgence, rapacity, voracity, acquisitiveness, avidity, cupidity, eagerness, intemperance, craving, esurience, insatiableness

Examples from the Web for greed

Contemporary Examples of greed

Whatever comes in the coming days is called by the greed of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Hollywood Surrenders to North Korea
Marlow Stern
December 17, 2014
The opera is a dark and passionate tale of adultery and greed.
When Stalin Met Lady Macbeth
Brian Moynahan
November 9, 2014
The foreclosure-drama is a fascinating study of greed and class warfare, boasting excellent turns by Garfield and Shannon.
Andrew Garfield on the Evils of Capitalism, the Hacking Scandal, and Criticism of ‘Spider-Man 2’
Marlow Stern
September 10, 2014
And my beloved Zimbabwe has sunk from a promising beacon into an abyss of greed and dictatorship.
How I Got Addicted to Africa (and Wrote a Thriller About It)
Todd Moss
September 9, 2014
“My daughter died because of their greed,” the mother said of the car company.
The Cops Who Found Out the Truth About GM's Deadly Cars—in 2006
Michael Daly
July 17, 2014

Historical Examples of greed

Women were like she wolves for greed when they had a brood of whelps.
The Armourer's Prentices
Charlotte M. Yonge
Dishonesty has its source in the covetousness and greed of the human heart.
An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Joseph Stump
There was nothing of the Warden's estimate in these eyes; nothing of cruelty nor deceit nor greed.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
Greed—mere greed—for I do not need this money which may destroy us all!
Fair Margaret
H. Rider Haggard
His greed at dinner, too, was closely in keeping with the greed of Monsieur Rigaud at breakfast.
Little Dorrit
Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for greed

greed

noun

excessive consumption of or desire for food; gluttony

excessive desire, as for wealth or power

Derived Formsgreedless, adjective

Word Origin for greed

C17: back formation from greedy

gree

noun Scot archaic

superiority or victory

the prize for a victory

Word Origin for gree

C14: from Old French gré, from Latin gradus step

gree

noun obsolete

goodwill; favour

satisfaction for an insult or injury

Word Origin for gree

C14: from Old French gré, from Latin grātum what is pleasing; see grateful

gree

verb grees, greeing or greed

archaic, or dialect to come or cause to come to agreement or harmony

Word Origin for gree

C14: variant of agree

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

Word Origin and History for greed

c.1600, a back-formation from greedy.