Greedy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈgrē-dē/

Meaning & Definition of Greedy

Greedy (adjective)

  1. marked by greed, having or showing a selfish desire for wealth and possessions
  2. eager, keen
  3. having a strong desire for food or drink

Greedy (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

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

    "a young rocker who was greedy for fame and riches"

    "the greedy exploitation of the land by developers"

    similar: acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, grabby, grasping, 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

  2. having a huge appetite

    "he's so greedy you have to carefully watch your plate during dinner, lest he snatch food off it"

    similar: edacious, esurient, gluttonous, hoggish, piggish, rapacious, ravenous, swinish, voracious
    related: hearty, wolfish, devouring, gobbling, gorging, gormandizing, gulping, insatiable, unquenchable, unslakable, empty, famished, hungry, peckish (chiefly British), starved, starving, malnourished, underfed, undernourished
    near: content, full, glutted, sated, satiated, satisfied, stuffed

  3. showing urgent desire or interest

    "he's greedy for new assignments that will really challenge him"

    similar: agog, antsy, anxious, ardent, athirst, avid, bonkers (informal), crazy, desirous, eager, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, gaga, geeked (slang), great, gung ho, hepped up, hopped-up, hot, hungry, impatient, juiced, keen, nuts, pumped, raring, solicitous, stoked (slang), thirsty, voracious, wild, champing at the bit, chomping at the bit
    related: engaged, interested, happy, hung up, obsessed, ambitious, appetent, covetous, craving, hankering, longing, pining, breathless, restive, restless, amenable, disposed, game, glad, inclined, ready, unreluctant, willing
    opposite: apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic
    near: casual, incurious, insouciant, nonchalant, unconcerned, uninterested, aloof, detached, disinterested, impassive, stolid, halfhearted, lackadaisical, languid, languorous, lukewarm, spiritless, averse, disinclined, hesitant, loath, reluctant, unwilling

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Greedy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Greedy:

Slang: geeked, stoked
Informal: bonkers
acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, grabby, grasping, mercenary, moneygrubbing, rapacious, edacious, esurient, gluttonous, hoggish, piggish, ravenous, swinish, voracious, agog, antsy, anxious, ardent, athirst, crazy, desirous, eager, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, gaga, great, gung ho, hepped up, hopped-up, hot, hungry, impatient, juiced, keen, nuts

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Greedy

Words with the opposite meaning of Greedy:

apathetic, indifferent, uneager, unenthusiastic

Related Words for Greedy

commercialistic, materialistic, philistine, itchy, lickerish, miserly, piggy, devouring, gobbling, insatiable, unquenchable, egocentric, egoistic, egotistic, self-centered, self-seeking, discontent, discontented, malcontent, unsatisfied, begrudging, grudging, resentful, hearty, wolfish, gorging, gormandizing, gulping, unslakable, empty

Near Antonyms of Greedy

nonmaterialistic, altruistic, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, greathearted, handsome, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, selfless, unselfish, unsparing, controlled, moderate, restrained, temperate, content, sated, satisfied, full, glutted, satiated, stuffed, casual, incurious

Word Forms of Greedy

Inflections: greedier, greediest

Derived words: greedily (adverb), greediness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Greedy

Middle English gredy, from Old English grǣdig; akin to Old High German grātac greedy

First known use: before 12th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Greedy

What does "Greedy" mean?

"Greedy" means marked by greed, having or showing a selfish desire for wealth and possessions. As an adjective, it is defined as: marked by greed, having or showing a selfish desire for wealth and possessions. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Greedy"?

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

What are different ways to say "Greedy"?

There are 109 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Greedy". Common alternatives include acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, grabby, grasping, mercenary, moneygrubbing and rapacious.

What is the opposite of "Greedy"?

Antonyms of "Greedy" include apathetic, indifferent, uneager and unenthusiastic. Near antonyms include nonmaterialistic, altruistic, bounteous and bountiful.

How do you use "Greedy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Greedy" in a sentence: "a young rocker who was greedy for fame and riches"; "the greedy exploitation of the land by developers"; "he's so greedy you have to carefully watch your plate during dinner, lest he snatch food off it".

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

"Greedy" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Greedy"?

"Greedy" is pronounced /ˈgrē-dē/.

What is the origin of the word "Greedy"?

"Greedy" comes from Middle English gredy, from Old English grǣdig; akin to Old High German grātac greedy. First known use: before 12th century.