covetous

adjective

cov·​et·​ous ˈkə-və-təs How to pronounce covetous (audio)
1
: marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another's possessions
He looked at his boss's new car with covetous eyes.
2
: having a craving for possession
covetous of power
covetously adverb
covetousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for covetous

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 businesswoman who cheated her associates

avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.

an avaricious miser

Examples of covetous in a Sentence

The expensive car drew many covetous looks. one aggressive bargain hunter rushed to make a covetous grab for the last marked-down TV
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His approach, on and off the pitch, has had a transformative effect and as Palace seek to secure him on a new contract, there have been covetous glances cast in his direction from clubs in the German Bundesliga. Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2025 For a very long time, other nations have been sizing up California with a covetous eye. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025 Those include a daffy retriever, a headstrong capybara, a covetous lemur and a mysterious bird, as well as glimpses of more fantastical creatures. Jack Smart, People.com, 5 Jan. 2025 No actor has played him with as much reptilian cruelty and covetous flair as Andrew Scott, either. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for covetous

Word History

Etymology

see covet

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of covetous was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Covetous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/covetous. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

covetous

adjective
cov·​et·​ous ˈkəv-ət-əs How to pronounce covetous (audio)
: marked by a too eager desire especially for another's possessions
covetously adverb
covetousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on covetous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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