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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

The greedy Colonel Pyncheon accused a man named Matthew Maule of witchcraft, in order to steal his property.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
The toys were not purloined, kidnapped, auctioned by Sotheby's or flipped by greedy collectors on eBay.

— STEVE HENDRIX THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of greedy

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

Most residents in Flagler Village are eager to see more tall towers built, according to Glassman.

— Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Recast as geometry, the old identities now point toward unmapped territory, raising questions that mathematicians are eager to explore.

— Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of eager

Adjective

Frasers’ failed takeover bid this past summer only whetted its acquisitive owner Mike Ashley‘s appetite for more.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
But for an acquisitive current occupant of the White House, the oldest continuously active musical organization hasn’t seemed enough.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of acquisitive

Adjective

Never forget that Harkness was once a CIA operative and perhaps served a higher calling before creating his own mercenary network and taking jobs for monied sleazebags like Cantor.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Apple told CyberGuy that DarkSword originated from sophisticated mercenary spyware developed at considerable expense.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of mercenary

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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 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of covetous

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