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

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

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

In yoga, I watched, covetous and profusely sweating, as people around me in class pointed their toes skyward and inverted.

From Salon

But if I am not covetous, it is because I have all I need.

From New York Times

It has been at once a fight for power, a religious conflict between Christians and the Muslim minority, a battle for control of resources, and a proxy war of covetous neighbors.

From New York Times