Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Immoderately desirous of acquiring wealth or material gain: Characterized by an excessive, insatiable desire for wealth or possessions, often to the point of being miserly or selfish.

Usage

• The word "avaricious" describes a person's character or behavior as being driven by an extreme and often unethical greed for money or property. It implies a level of greed that goes beyond normal desire.
• It is a formal term, often used in literary, economic, or moral discussions to criticize such behavior.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The avaricious landlord raised the rent on his impoverished tenants.
  • Her avaricious nature was revealed when she cheated her own family out of their inheritance.
  • The dictator's avaricious policies enriched himself while the country fell into poverty.

Advanced Usage

• "Avaricious for": Used to specify the object of the excessive desire.
  • He was avaricious for power, not just wealth.
• Describing abstract concepts like systems or eras:
  • The avaricious commercialism of the era corrupted many institutions.

Variants and Related Words

• Avarice (n): The extreme greed for wealth or material gain itself.
  • His actions were motivated by pure avarice.
• Avariciously (adv): In an avaricious manner.
  • He eyed the jewels avariciously.

Synonyms

• Greedy: Having an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth or food. (Less formal than "avaricious").
• Grasping: Eager to get and keep money or possessions; acquisitive.
• Covetous: Having or showing a great desire to possess something belonging to someone else.
• Rapacious: Aggressively greedy or grasping. (Often implies predatory behavior).
• Acquisitive: Excessively interested in acquiring money or material things.

Antonyms

• Generous: Showing a readiness to give more of something than is strictly necessary or expected.
• Altruistic: Showing a selfless concern for the well-being of others.
• Munificent: More generous than is usual or necessary.

Idioms and Phrases

• While there is no common idiom using the exact word "avaricious," the concept is central to idioms like:
  • "The love of money is the root of all evil.": A proverb highlighting the dangers of avarice.
  • "To sell one's soul for...": To sacrifice one's principles for material gain, an act of avarice.

Adjective

1. immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth
   • they are avaricious and will do anything for money
   • casting covetous eyes on his neighbor's fields
   • a grasping old miser
   • grasping commercialism
   • greedy for money and power
   • grew richer and greedier
   • prehensile employers stingy with raises for their employees