greediness

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "greediness" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an eagerness for more than is reasonable or appropriate. Example: His greediness for money caused him to take advantage of those in vulnerable positions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

Whilst she deems the Pill the best invention of her lifetime - "It's given women independence more than anything else" - an undiminished "greediness for the look of things" and "huge pleasure in colour and light" means that other great innovation, colour television, also gets her approval.

The Guardian

It is just that the city's name has been simplified to the easier-to-pronounce identity of the empire that first built it: Mexico City.Urban LarsonBostonDoing the businessSIR – Your briefing on business schools perpetuated every myth ever said about them: staidness, impracticality, greediness, cheating and more ("New graduation skills", May 12th).

The Economist

Krasicki's satires the first collection was entitled simply Satyry (1779; "Satires")—concentrate on vices such as drunkenness and greediness.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I was happy being a theatre actor and this was just greediness".

Independent

("That's how he talked about people, as if they were items on a menu," Catharine recalls of her cousin. " 'That one is appetizing,' or 'That one is not appetizing.' ") The director, Mark Brokaw, underlines how Catharine and her mother (played with just the right degree of fluttery greediness by Becky Ann Baker) are the inverse of Violet and Sebastian.

The New Yorker

Ibrahim sees this behavior as symptomatic of a deeper greediness.

The New Yorker

"Skin and gourmandisme," Exarchopoulos said, mixing two languages and concepts — skin and eating, greediness, need.

The New Yorker

She was unprepared for the child's roaring greediness, his assertion of self, and for the violence of love that swamped her, that made her shake with what she knew must come next.

The New Yorker

"It just shows the greediness of Russia and Norway that the first thing they talked about is not global warming, which is what's making this area suddenly accessible, but resource extraction," said Truls Gulowsen, head of the group's Norway branch.

The New York Times

The overestimation reflected the ambitions of vendors and, above all, the inability or unwillingness of auction houses to oppose their greediness for fear of losing consignments.

The New York Times - Arts

So it was the bad judgment of the elite, not the greediness of the common man, that caused America's deficit.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "greediness", consider the specific nuance you want to convey – whether it's about wealth, possessions, power, or even abstract concepts like knowledge or attention.

Common error

While "greediness" is widely understood, avoid overusing it in formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise synonyms like "avarice", "cupidity", or "acquisitiveness" /s/acquisitiveness to add sophistication and specificity to your analysis.

Linguistic Context

Greediness functions primarily as a noun, denoting the state or quality of being greedy. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Examples illustrate its use in describing the motivation behind actions, the cause of negative consequences, and the characteristic of individuals or entities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Encyclopedias

16%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Greediness, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun that describes the state of being greedy. It is commonly employed in News & Media, encyclopedias, and scientific contexts to express disapproval of excessive desire. While acceptable in most settings, more formal synonyms like "avarice" /s/avarice or "cupidity" /s/cupidity might be preferred in academic or professional writing. When using "greediness", consider the specific nuance you aim to convey, and be mindful of its potential negative connotations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avarice

Focuses on excessive love of wealth.

cupidity

Emphasizes an intense desire for wealth or possessions.

acquisitiveness

Highlights the tendency to acquire and accumulate possessions.

rapacity

Suggests aggressive and predatory greed.

covetousness

Implies a strong desire for what belongs to others.

materialism

Focuses on the importance of material possessions and wealth.

voracity

Emphasizes an insatiable appetite or desire.

insatiability

Highlights the inability to be satisfied.

graspingness

Indicates a tendency to seize and hold onto things tightly.

possessiveness

Focuses on the desire to own and control things.

FAQs

How to use "greediness" in a sentence?

"Greediness" is a noun that describes the state of being greedy. For example, "His greediness led him to exploit his workers".

What can I say instead of "greediness"?

You can use alternatives like "avarice", "cupidity", or "acquisitiveness" depending on the specific context.

Is "greediness" a formal word?

While "greediness" is acceptable in most contexts, more formal options such as "avarice" or "cupidity" may be preferable in academic or professional writing.

What's the difference between "greediness" and "selfishness"?

"Greediness" implies an excessive desire for more than one's fair share, while "selfishness" focuses on prioritizing one's own needs and desires over those of others. They are related but not interchangeable.