GREED Definition & Meaning

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greed

[greed]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.
Synonyms: , , , , , ,
Antonyms:

greed

/ ɡ��ː�� /

noun

excessive consumption of or desire for food; gluttony
excessive desire, as for wealth or power

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

greedless adjective
greedsome adjective
ˈ�� adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of greed¹

First recorded in 1600–10; back formation from greedy

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of greed¹

C17: back formation from _greedy

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Synonym Study

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.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"You shouldn't be sitting there freezing cold in this day and age because of greed."

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He denied being motivated by greed and said it was the kudos of dealing with a name in the collecting world.

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By contrast, Walz gleefully tore into Trump, saying his only animating impulses were corruption and greed.

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RBS was the poster child for banking recklessness, hubris, greed and cruelty.

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Prosecutors alleged Hayes was dishonestly seeking to manipulate the Libor rate to benefit the bank's trading positions and therefore his bonuses while "cheating" others trading on the market, "motivated by pure greed".

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Related 51�Թ�s

avarice��
excess��
gluttony��
hunger��
longing��
selfishness��

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When To Use

What does��greed mean?

Greed is an excessive desire for more, especially for more money and possessions.The adjective greedy is used to describe people who are filled with greed, as in greedy billionaires, or actions that are based on greed, as in It was a greedy scheme to squeeze more money out of people. Greed and greedy are always used negatively to criticize the excessive desire for more.Greed is often thought to influence people to do bad things in their obsession to acquire more money or more stuff. In the expression “the love of money is the root of all evil,” the love of money is another way of saying greed.Less commonly, greed can mean the same thing as gluttony—an excessive desire for food.Example: Wall Street’s unrestrained greed has infected every part of American society, from politics to healthcare to education.

Greece greedflate

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