greedy

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "greedy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who desires or takes more than their fair share of something. For example: "The greedy company executive took a huge bonus for himself despite the fact that his employees had not received a pay raise in years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were caterpillars, greedy worms condemned to toil on earth; the chrysalis was our coffin, but the butterfly's miraculous emergence symbolised the possibility of an afterlife, a chance for our souls to ascend to heaven.

The Guardian - Film

All of these social groups will point out that the recession was caused in part by greedy developers who overheated the property market and hence the entire economy thanks also to loans from their chums in the main Irish banks.

The Guardian

Such killers may speak as if they are acting piously under the eye of an all-powerful God, but they actually act with a sharp, greedy eye for their audience of human peers.

The Guardian

We spent a blissful, greedy day winding in and out of many of the area's finest, sharing just the one plate of tacos or dividing a burrito (still a mammoth meal) in each.

The Guardian - Travel

We can see here that the invisible hand is bound, can greedy doctors really be blamed for the spiralling costs?

The Guardian

The greedy, selfish "development" has worsened, instead of alleviating, its two biggest headaches: housing and traffic.

The Guardian

However, in the late 1970s a few of us got greedy; the rest of us failed to stop the greedy, and they spread their ideas around (if not their money).

The Guardian - Business

The hero is a stupid greedy little bear, and the clever animals are ridiculous: good old England, I sometimes think, at it again.

The Guardian - Books

I am so frustrated at the way greedy bigger football clubs gobble up players that have been signed up, and then carefully nurtured over the months and years, by teams like my own Dundee United.

The Guardian - Sport

Unlike most French parks, there is a distinct lack of Gallic order here; in fact, with lakes, open spaces, and its greedy and inquisitive ducks, you could very easily be in a park in any British city.

The Guardian - Books

Liverpool's England international Raheem Sterling was recently labelled greedy after asking for £100,000 a week wages (though some Premier League players get paid far more), and lambasted for inhaling laughing gas, or "hippy crack" as some newspapers referred to it.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "greedy" to describe individuals, organizations, or systems that exhibit an excessive and often unethical desire for resources or gain. For example, "a greedy corporation" or "a greedy government".

Common error

While "greedy" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it excessively in very informal settings where more nuanced vocabulary might be more appropriate to convey specific shades of meaning. Consider alternatives like "eager", "enthusiastic", or "avid" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The word "greedy" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe someone or something exhibiting excessive or insatiable desire. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely used. Examples include "greedy developers" and "greedy bankers."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "greedy" is a versatile adjective used to describe an excessive desire for something, particularly wealth or resources. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts. Its frequent appearance in news and media highlights its relevance in discussions about ethics, economics, and social behavior. While "greedy" is generally appropriate for neutral settings, it's important to be mindful of the specific context and consider more nuanced alternatives when a more precise description is needed. The word "greedy" can be replaced by alternatives like "avaricious", "covetous" or "grasping". Finally, it's better to use "greedy for" instead of "greedy of".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avaricious

Formal term emphasizing excessive desire for wealth or material gain.

covetous

Highlights the desire for something belonging to someone else.

rapacious

Implies aggressively seizing what one desires, often through exploitation.

grasping

Suggests an eagerness to take and hold onto things, often selfishly.

acquisitive

Focuses on the desire to acquire and accumulate possessions.

money-grubbing

Informal term for someone excessively focused on making money.

insatiable

Highlights the inability to be satisfied, always wanting more.

voracious

Emphasizes an enormous appetite or desire for something.

selfish

General term for prioritizing one's own needs and desires above others.

materialistic

Focuses on the pursuit of material possessions and wealth.

FAQs

How to use "greedy" in a sentence?

You can use "greedy" to describe someone who wants more than they need or deserve. For instance, "The "greedy businessman" hoarded all the profits for himself."

What can I say instead of "greedy"?

You can use alternatives like "avaricious", "covetous", or "grasping" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "greedy for power" or "greedy of power"?

"Greedy for power" is the more common and natural-sounding construction. While "greedy of" is not grammatically incorrect, it is less frequently used in modern English.

What's the difference between "greedy" and "selfish"?

"Greedy" implies an excessive desire for something, often material possessions, while "selfish" suggests prioritizing one's own needs and desires over others, regardless of whether it involves material gain. Someone can be "selfish" without being greedy, and vice versa.