covetous

[ kuhv-i-tuhs ]

adjective

1. inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy.

   Synonyms: rapacious, grasping

2. eagerly desirous.

covetous

/ ˈkʌvɪtəs /

adjective

1. usually postpositiveand foll byof jealously eager for the possession of something (esp the property of another person)

Derived Forms

• ˈcovetousness, noun
• ˈcovetously, adverb

Other Words From

• cov·et·ous·ly adverb
• cov·et·ous·ness noun
• non·cov·et·ous adjective
• non·cov·et·ous·ly adverb
• o·ver·cov·et·ous adjective
• o·ver·cov·et·ous·ly adverb
• un·cov·et·ous adjective
• un·cov·et·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of covetous¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English coveitous, from Anglo-French, Old French; covet, -ous

Synonym Study

See avaricious.

Example Sentences

It’s gotten to the point where people in that world are covetous of an invitation from Michael Yon.

From Slate

Consider Second Timothy, 3: 2: “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.”

From Salon

But it may have been Jemmy's spectacular meanness that inspired Dickens to immortalize him as the "covetous, old sinner" in A Christmas Carol, where Scrooge is visited by ghosts that show him his past, present and deathly future.

From BBC

“I’ve asked Ted Sarandos why he’s so covetous of awards: ‘You guys are really, really spending,’” says O’Neil.

From Los Angeles Times

Hammons seems like the victor in his attempt to satirize not so much the transaction of art for dollars but the covetous, oblivious, entitled nature of certain transactors.

From New York Times