COVETOUS Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'covetous' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of covetous are acquisitive , avaricious , grasping , and greedy . While all these words 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

Q: Where would 'acquisitive' be a reasonable alternative to 'covetous'?

The meanings of acquisitive and covetous largely overlap; however, acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep. // an eagerly acquisitive mind

Q: In what contexts can 'avaricious' take the place of 'covetous'?

The words avaricious and covetous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess. // an avaricious miser

Q: How is 'grasping' related to other words for 'covetous'?

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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'greedy' instead of 'covetous'?

The synonyms greedy and covetous are sometimes interchangeable, but greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire. // greedy for status symbols

covetous

adjective

ˈkə-və-təs

Definition of covetous

as in greedy

having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions one aggressive bargain hunter rushed to make a covetous grab for the last marked-down TV

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in jealous

having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages a covetous child who must destroy what he cannot have

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How does the adjective covetous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of covetous are acquisitive, avaricious, grasping, and greedy. While all these words 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

Where would acquisitive be a reasonable alternative to covetous?

The meanings of acquisitive and covetous largely overlap; however, acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep.

an eagerly acquisitive mind

In what contexts can avaricious take the place of covetous?

The words avaricious and covetous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.

an avaricious miser

How is grasping related to other words for covetous?

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

When is it sensible to use greedy instead of covetous?

The synonyms greedy and covetous are sometimes interchangeable, but greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire.

greedy for status symbols

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 covetous 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 Similarly, semiconductor equipment suppliers cast their covetous eyes on the market in Taiwan, home to key semiconductor manufacturers. — Yu-Tzu Chiu, IEEE Spectrum, 7 Feb. 2011 See All Example Sentences for covetous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for covetous

Adjective

Skubal, who missed more than a month after eventually having surgery to remove a loose body from his elbow, mostly disagreed with public reaction painting him as greedy or selfish in not disclosing the strange feeling that had lingered in his arm.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 24 July 2026
In Nolan’s telling, his deceit and plundering portend the collapse of the Bronze Age—a foreboding warning about greedy, fading empires that feels a little too relevant.

— Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026

Definition of greedy

Adjective

His length would make most of the offensive tackles in this class jealous, and his ability to move and find the ball at his size is rare.

— Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 22 July 2026
By 1992, Fisher had grown jealous of Buttafuoco's wife, Mary Jo, and took it upon herself to eliminate her.

— Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of jealous

Adjective

Now, the 34-year-old utilityman is grateful to be back and eager to build on his four-for-four start over two games.

— Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
As the Steam Deck slowly marches toward its fifth birthday next February, owners are likely eager for a way to extend its life rather than investing in expensive high-end competition.

— Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026

Definition of eager

Adjective

Now, with one-year mercenary players plus rapid roster turnover, the first game deters even the most addicted sports gambler.

— Mac Engel July 28, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026
But after Richard’s death, his mercenary captain and right-hand man, the infamous Mercadier, had Basile flayed alive and hanged.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of mercenary

Adjective

Played by a Colman Domingo who is done up to look the most wax figurine of them all in a shellacking of makeup, prosthetics, and colored contacts, Joe is always either giving an avaricious open-mouthed leer or a cold-eyed glare.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
There’s a quasi-heist theme to The Christophers, which revolves around an acclaimed artist (McKellen), who has long since stopped making new work, and his avaricious children (Gunning and Corden) who try to enlist Coel to complete some of their dad’s unfinished paintings.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026

Definition of avaricious

Adjective

All this acquisitive activity has turned the majority of physicians into employees rather than independent operators.

— Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Looking back on his 27 years with the bank, Gentry said the timing, loopholes, tax strategies and negotiations that gave the business its acquisitive edge were not because of dumb luck.

— Chase Jordan April 9, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026

Definition of acquisitive

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coveting

covetous

covetousness

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“Covetous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covetous. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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