covetousness

[ kuhv-i-tuhs-nis ]

noun

1. eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions:

   Social media so often encourages us to compare ourselves to others, inspiring covetousness and insecurity.

Other Words From

• non·cov·et·ous·ness noun
• o·ver·cov·et·ous·ness noun
• un·cov·et·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of covetousness¹

covetous ( def ) + -ness ( def )

Example Sentences

Russia's covetousness toward Ukraine differs somewhat from its other colonization activities, but comes from the same underlying desire to subjugate.

From Salon

“Covetousness and avarice” trump whatever wisdom we gain in our short lives.

From Los Angeles Times

In another section, she wrote that Christian leaders struggle with the “same temptations of drugs, alcohol, homosexuality, fornication, adultery, pornography, pedophilia, stealing, lying, envy, covetousness, and every other sin that the congregation struggle with.”

From New York Times

I understand greed and covetousness as much as anybody, but on that scale, I find it really difficult to conceptualize what would keep you underpaying your workers when you already have tens of billions of dollars.

From New York Times

“Certainly. Go, dear, I forgot that you have any home but this,” and Mrs. March pressed the white hand that wore the wedding ring, as if asking pardon for her maternal covetousness.

From Literature