greedy

/'gri:di/
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greedy

A child looks greedy as he reaches for the last cookie on the plate.

Definition
  1. Adjective:
    • Excessively desirous of food or drink: Having or showing an intense, selfish, and often uncontrolled desire to consume more than is reasonable or necessary.
    • Excessively desirous of something, especially wealth or gain: Having an intense and selfish desire for more of something, such as money, power, or possessions, than one needs or deserves.
Usage
  • The primary meaning describes an excessive, often unattractive, desire for more. It can apply to physical consumption (like food) or abstract acquisitions (like wealth or power).
  • It is often used in a disapproving or critical context to describe selfish or insatiable behavior.
  • Common constructions: "greedy for [something]" (e.g., greedy for power), "greedy with [something]" (e.g., greedy with resources).
Examples
  • Describing excessive desire for consumption:
    • The greedy child took all the cake for himself.
    • Don't be so greedy with the cookies; leave some for others.
  • Desiring excessive wealth, power, etc.:
    • The greedy corporation exploited its workers for greater profits.
    • He was greedy for fame and would do anything to achieve it.
    • They grew richer and greedier, never satisfied with what they had.
Advanced Usage
  • "Greedy for": Shows a strong, often excessive, craving for a specific abstract thing.
    • Politicians greedy for power often lose sight of their constituents' needs.
  • "Greedy of" (less common, more formal/literary): Similar to "greedy for."
    • He was greedy of gain, thinking only of his own wealth.
Variants and Related Words
  • Greed (n): The intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.
    • His greed led to his eventual downfall.
  • Greedily (adv): In a greedy manner.
    • He ate the meal greedily, as if he hadn't eaten in days.
Synonyms
  • Avaricious: Having an extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
  • Grasping: Eager to get or keep things, especially money; avaricious.
  • Rapacious: Aggressively greedy or grasping.
  • Insatiable: Impossible to satisfy. (Note: This is often a close synonym when describing the of the desire, e.g., an insatiable appetite.)
  • Gluttonous: Excessively greedy when eating and drinking.
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.
  • Moderate: Not excessive or extreme, especially in one's desires.
  • Abstemious: Not self-indulgent, especially when eating and drinking.
Idioms and Phrases
  • "Greedy guts" (informal, often used with children): A playful or mildly scolding term for someone who is being greedy, especially with food.
    • Come on, greedy guts, save some pizza for your sister!
  • "Eye is bigger than one's stomach": This idiom describes someone who takes more food than they can actually eat, which is a form of greediness.
    • He piled his plate high, but his eyes were bigger than his stomach.
greedy

A child looks greedy as he reaches for the last cookie on the plate.

Adjective
  1. wanting to eat or drink more than one can reasonably consume
    • don't be greedy with the cookies
  2. (often followed by `for') ardently or excessively desirous
    • avid for adventure
    • an avid ambition to succeed
    • fierce devouring affection
    • the esurient eyes of an avid curiosity
    • greedy for fame
  3. 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

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