Coveting — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈkə-vət/ cov·et

Meaning & Definition of Coveting

Coveting (verb)

  1. to wish for earnestly
  2. to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably
  3. to feel inordinate desire for what belongs to another

Coveting (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions

    "cast a coveting glance at her friend's diamond necklace"

    similar: acquisitive, avaricious, avid, covetous, grabby, grasping, greedy, mercenary, moneygrubbing, rapacious
    related: commercialistic, materialistic, philistine, desirous, eager, itchy, lickerish, miserly, hoggish, piggish, piggy, swinish, devouring, gluttonous, gobbling, insatiable, ravenous, unquenchable, voracious, egocentric, egoistic, egotistic, self-centered, self-seeking, discontent, discontented, malcontent, unsatisfied, begrudging, grudging, resentful
    near: nonmaterialistic, altruistic, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, greathearted, handsome, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, selfless, unselfish, unsparing, controlled, moderate, restrained, temperate, content, sated, satisfied

Coveting (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy

    "I've been coveting that sleek sports car in the showroom for some time now"

    similar: aching (for), craving, desiderating, desiring, dying (for), hankering (for or after), hungering (for), itching (for), jonesing (for) (slang), longing (for), lusting (for or after), panting (after), pining (for), repining (for), salivating (for), sighing (for), thirsting (for), wanting, wishing (for), yearning (for), yenning (for), setting one's heart on
    related: spoiling (for), adoring, delighting (in), digging, enjoying, fancying, grooving (on), liking, loving, relishing, reveling (in), favoring, preferring, admiring, appreciating, cherishing, prizing, treasuring, valuing
    near: abhorring, abominating, despising, detesting, execrating, hating, loathing, declining, refusing, rejecting, spurning

Related Entry: Covet (verb)

Covet is a different word from Coveting. The synonyms below are for covet, not for coveting.

  1. to have an earnest wish to own or enjoy

    "I've been coveting that sleek sports car in the showroom for some time now"

    similar: ache (for), crave, desiderate, desire, die (for), hanker (for or after), hunger (for), itch (for), jones (for) (slang), long (for), lust (for or after), pant (after), pine (for), repine (for), salivate (for), sigh (for), thirst (for), want, wish (for), yearn (for), yen (for), set one's heart on
    related: spoil (for), adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, love, relish, revel (in), favor, prefer, admire, appreciate, cherish, prize, treasure, value
    near: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, decline, refuse, reject, spurn

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Coveting

The most common words with a similar meaning to Coveting:

Slang: jonesing (for)
acquisitive, avaricious, avid, covetous, grabby, grasping, greedy, mercenary, moneygrubbing, rapacious, aching (for), craving, desiderating, desiring, dying (for), hankering (for or after), hungering (for), itching (for), longing (for), lusting (for or after), panting (after), pining (for), repining (for), salivating (for), sighing (for), thirsting (for), wanting, wishing (for), yearning (for), yenning (for), setting one's heart on

Related Words for Coveting

commercialistic, materialistic, philistine, desirous, eager, itchy, lickerish, miserly, hoggish, piggish, piggy, swinish, devouring, gluttonous, gobbling, insatiable, ravenous, unquenchable, voracious, egocentric, egoistic, egotistic, self-centered, self-seeking, discontent, discontented, malcontent, unsatisfied, begrudging, grudging

Near Antonyms of Coveting

nonmaterialistic, altruistic, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, greathearted, handsome, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, selfless, unselfish, unsparing, controlled, moderate, restrained, temperate, content, sated, satisfied, abhorring, abominating, despising, detesting, execrating, hating

Word Forms of Coveting

Inflections: coveted, covets

Derived words: covetable (adjective), coveter (noun), covetingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Coveting

Middle English coveiten, from Anglo-French coveiter, from Vulgar Latin *cupidietare, from Latin cupiditat-, cupiditas desire, from cupidus desirous, from cupere to desire

First known use: 14th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Coveting

What does "Coveting" mean?

"Coveting" means to wish for earnestly. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to wish for earnestly. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Coveting"?

Other words for "Coveting" include acquisitive, avaricious, avid, covetous, grabby, grasping, greedy and mercenary. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Coveting" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Coveting"?

There are 82 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Coveting". Common alternatives include acquisitive, avaricious, avid, covetous, grabby, grasping, greedy, mercenary, moneygrubbing and rapacious.

How do you use "Coveting" in a sentence?

Examples of "Coveting" in a sentence: "cast a coveting glance at her friend's diamond necklace"; "I've been coveting that sleek sports car in the showroom for some time now".

Is "Coveting" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Coveting" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Coveting"?

"Coveting" is pronounced /ˈkə-vət/ and divided into syllables as cov·et.

What is the origin of the word "Coveting"?

"Coveting" comes from Middle English coveiten, from Anglo-French coveiter, from Vulgar Latin *cupidietare, from Latin cupiditat-, cupiditas desire, from cupidus desirous, from cupere to desire. First known use: 14th centuryt.

What is another word for "Coveting" meaning "having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions"?

When "Coveting" (adjective) means having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions, synonyms include acquisitive, avaricious, avid, covetous, grabby and grasping.