Nearby Words

greed

[greed] Example Sentences Origin

greed

[greed]
noun
excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.

Origin:
1600–10; back formation from greedy

greed·less, adjective
greed·some, adjective


avarice, avidity, cupidity, covetousness; voracity, ravenousness, rapacity. Greed, greediness denote an excessive, extreme desire for something, often more than one's proper share. Greed means avid desire for gain or wealth (unless some other application is indicated) and is definitely uncomplimentary in implication: His greed drove him to exploit his workers. Greediness, when unqualified, suggests a craving for food; it may, however, be applied to all avid desires, and need not be always uncomplimentary: greediness for knowledge, fame, praise.


generosity.

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Greed is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
Example Sentences
  • The most pressing issue facing the world is greed.
  • Well, with all our greed we are going to doom ourselves.
  • In normal times, it runs on a healthy mix of fear and greed.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged

gree

3[gree]
verb (used with object), verb (used without object), greed, gree·ing. British Dialect.

Origin:
1375–1425; late Middle English; see gree2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
greed (ɡriːd)
 
n
1.  excessive consumption of or desire for food; gluttony
2.  excessive desire, as for wealth or power
 
[C17: back formation from greedy]
 
'greedless
 
adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

greed
c.1600, a back formation from greedy.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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