COVETOUS


Meaning of COVETOUS in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈkə-və-təs ]

adjective

Date: 13th century

1. : marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another's possessions

2. : having a craving for possession

covetous of power

• cov·et·ous·ly adverb

• cov·et·ous·ness noun

Synonyms:

covetous , greedy , acquisitive , grasping , avaricious mean having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions. covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions

covetous of his brother's country estate

greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire

greedy for status symbols

acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep

an eagerly acquisitive mind

grasping adds to covetous and greedy an implication of selfishness and often suggests unfair or ruthless means

a hard grasping trader who cheated the natives

avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess

an avaricious miser

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.