rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryavariciousGreedy for wealth
adjective

avaricious

av-uh-RISH-us/ˌævəˈrɪʃəs/

Extremely greedy for wealth or material gain.

The avaricious woman hugs her gold while eagerly gathering more coins.

An already wealthy woman protectively hugs a large mound of gold coins while eagerly raking still more coins toward herself, visibly conveying excessive acquisitiveness rather than ordinary saving.
Etymology
avariciousOld Frenchgreedy, covetous

The inherited adjective meant “greedy” or “covetous” and was formed from the noun for greed. In English it first described miserly withholding, then also the intense desire to acquire wealth.

In context

Vivid Audio Library179:43
no robber, no avaricious, lazy priest scrambling for gold, but a retiring, humblesed man, who had innocently taken what had innocently been offered to him.
The Warden by Anthony Trollope | Full Classic Victorian British Literature Audiobook

More examples

  • An avaricious heir tried to claim the entire estate.
  • Her avaricious demands grew with every successful deal.
  • The novel's avaricious villain values gold above friendship.

Forms

avarice noun — Extreme greed for wealth or possessions.

Similar words

greedy
Applies to many excessive desires, not just material gain.
grasping
Emphasizes persistent attempts to acquire wealth or advantage.