as in greedy
having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions
they were a mercenary couple, who defined themselves not by what they were but by what they owned
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 mercenary
But the group also used it as a tool of execution against deserters, inadvertently showcasing the brittleness of a regime that had to use fear to motivate even its mercenary soldiers to stay in the fight.
—
Nicolas Niarchos, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Discovered by the priest Ahk-Ton and molded into the glimmering Orb of Ra, this powerful cosmic relic would be discovered thousands of years later by mercenary archaeologist Rex Mason.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 12 July 2025
As mercenary Zora Bennett, Johansson leads a dangerous expedition in Jurassic World Rebirth, building a rapport with Bailey's character, super-smart paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis.
—Jen Juneau, People.com, 11 July 2025
Or a mercenary merchant, with two feet clapped tight to the ground?
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mercenary
Nicolas Niarchos, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Discovered by the priest Ahk-Ton and molded into the glimmering Orb of Ra, this powerful cosmic relic would be discovered thousands of years later by mercenary archaeologist Rex Mason.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 12 July 2025
As mercenary Zora Bennett, Johansson leads a dangerous expedition in Jurassic World Rebirth, building a rapport with Bailey's character, super-smart paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis.
—Jen Juneau, People.com, 11 July 2025
Or a mercenary merchant, with two feet clapped tight to the ground?
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for mercenary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mercenary
Adjective
-
But the vast majority are cynical and greedy and scared of losing their jobs.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 July 2025
-
A far cry from the mild-mannered Peter Parker in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films, Tully is an abusive, hot-headed, and greedy slime ball who leverages post-war desperation into a thriving criminal business.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
The historic Civil War fort opens its rooms, galleries, and grounds to visitors eager to learn about life as a Union soldier.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
27 July 2025
-
The tournament drew crowds from across Gauteng, eager to witness high-intensity action from top teams battling for the R500,000 winner-takes-all prize.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
27 July 2025
Adjective
-
The comedy-drama follows a Gen Z content creator who returns to her ancestral home seeking viral material, only to encounter her deceased brother’s ghost while dealing with avaricious relatives.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2025
-
This nation state, my home, is built on a quagmire of lies sold to the young as truths; sold to the insecure as truths; sold by the avaricious, the power-hungry, the conceited, the overwhelmingly white and male.—
Christine Winter,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
While Waze once again doesn’t charge anyone for usage and directions, how people use it along with when and where people go with it is surely valuable to businesses eager to meet and lead the needs of an acquisitive public.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
The competitive battle for smaller players continued into the early 1960s until antitrust laws curtailed the acquisitive sprees.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Mercenary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mercenary. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share