1
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
2
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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Recent Examples of covetous
Image Meet Me at the Crossroads by Megan Giddings
The sudden appearance of seven mysterious doors across the world draws attention from religious sects, covetous billionaires and everyday people who speculate over what lies on the other side.
—
Laura Thompson, New York Times, 22 May 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
Laura Thompson, New York Times, 22 May 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covetous
Adjective
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And right now, these corrupt billionaires, these greedy corporations, are determining all avenues of our life, all types of policies.—
Jim DeFede,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Fears of robbery, greedy family and friends, scammers, mismanagement and unwanted attention are among the concerns that keep some big winners hesitant to go public.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Seeing a former flame with someone else brings out a jealous bitterness that eats at Lou, which is hard not to relate to as a millennial audience member with a heart.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2026
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Drug Church usually drop songs about down-on-their luck kids, blue collar strivers, and jealous folks intent on dragging their compatriots down.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Republicans are eager to put Democrats on record opposing the bill’s hallmark components, including proof of citizenship when registering to vote and a national standard for photo IDs at the ballot box.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Mar. 2026
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In a wide-ranging interview with Politico in Brussels, published on Tuesday, the Netflix Co-CEO was keen to discuss new efforts by the EU to regulate the media industry, but appeared eager to put the story of Netflix’s unsuccessful WBD bid to bed.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In many other places, the fighters have moved into other mercenary formations.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
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At the height of its power, the Russian mercenary outfit known as the Wagner Group numbered tens of thousands of soldiers who were dispatched to Ukraine, Syria, and several African countries.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Henwick’s Ruth, opposite Margaret Qualley’s avaricious Julia, represent a fork in the road for Becket.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Feb. 2026
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Harlan has an avaricious family, each member of which has something to gain from his death.—
Anna Russell,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As Canva reckons with dramatic changes in the market, the design software vendor is getting acquisitive.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
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The company has already been strategically acquisitive, buying the experiential marketing and events firm Experiential Supply Co. last year, and the Roost Podcast Network from Warner Bros.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Covetous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covetous. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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