as in greed
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions
the queen's acquisitiveness would not be satisfied until she owned the largest diamond in the world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of acquisitiveness
Many critics of such wanton cosmic acquisitiveness balk at the idea of scarcely regulated private-sector lunar strip-mining.
—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
14 May 2026
Following too closely in its protagonist’s footsteps, The Queen of Versailles presents only two options — tough but spiritually fulfilling material deprivation or unconstrained acquisitiveness.
—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
14 May 2026
Following too closely in its protagonist’s footsteps, The Queen of Versailles presents only two options — tough but spiritually fulfilling material deprivation or unconstrained acquisitiveness.
—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acquisitiveness
greed
Noun
-
Released at the tail end of Reaganomics, Carpenter’s most politically forward thriller now feels like a decoder ring for ’80s-era greed, detachment, complacency and ruthlessness.
-
Does this show reveal more to me how the most vulnerable amongst us are suffering as a result of disinterest, apathy, greed?
Cite this Entry
“Acquisitiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acquisitiveness. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
