greedy consumers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "greedy consumers" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe consumers who are excessively eager to acquire goods or services, often without regard for consequences. Example: "The rise of fast fashion has led to a culture of greedy consumers who prioritize quantity over quality."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

As the world's most greedy consumers of energy, we still have no coherent, responsible energy policy.

The New York Times

When young men (and women) were expected to grow up into something other than eager, childishly greedy consumers, we looked to movies like "I Vitelloni" and our native variants for possibilities, clues, storm warnings about our future lives.

The New York Times

Indeed, I maintain that high levels of mental illness are essential to Selfish Capitalism, because needy, miserable people make greedy consumers and can be more easily suckered into perfectionist, competitive workaholism.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Parts of the country, which is a greedy consumer of electricity, were left practically powerless.

The Economist

Rising output in North America threatens to offset imports to the United States, the world's greediest oil consumer and still Saudi Arabia's most reliable customer.

The Economist

In interviews, the company and the lawyers suing it seek to frame the conflict in stark terms: devious lawyers with spurious claims piling on a valuable manufacturer, or a greedy company hurting consumers by refusing to fix a defective product.

The New York Times

Convert countries have forgotten, or are not aware, that turbo-capitalism in the United States is embedded in a distinctive legal system and in Calvinism.America's legal system, with its "nasty, greedy" lawyers, lets consumers, suppliers and lesser competitors, as well as government agencies, use the law to contain the overpowering strength of big business.

The Economist

The trick of the novel, its central comic turn, is to make Beard, the greedy, selfish uber-consumer, an accidental expert on anthropogenic climate change.

The Guardian - Books

And that's where the suffering begins.It is a seductive argument: our misery is all the fault of greedy corporations squeezing innocent consumers.

The Economist

Mr Davis's reply was to waffle using lots of populist words, refusing to pass rate-increases on to consumers, blaming greedy out-of-state suppliers and calling for price caps in the national wholesale electricity market.

The Economist

Their answer was to call the 32X a "transitional device" between the Genesis and the Saturn, to which Bayless describes of the strategy, "[f]rankly, it just made us look greedy and dumb to consumers".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "greedy consumers" in contexts where a more neutral term like "avid shoppers" or "frequent customers" would be more appropriate, especially if you do not intend to convey a negative judgment.

Common error

Be careful not to paint all consumers with the same brush. The term "greedy consumers" carries a negative connotation and should be reserved for situations where excessive and irresponsible consumption is genuinely evident, rather than a general description of consumerism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "greedy consumers" functions primarily as a noun phrase where the adjective "greedy" modifies the noun "consumers". It describes a specific type of consumer characterized by excessive desire and consumption. Ludwig highlights that this phrase is often used in contexts discussing economic or societal critiques.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "greedy consumers" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe consumers driven by excessive desire and consumption. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While relatively rare in occurrence, the phrase commonly appears in news and media contexts to express criticism or concern about the negative impacts of consumerism. When using "greedy consumers", it's important to consider the specific nuance you want to convey and avoid overgeneralizing consumer behavior. Alternatives like "acquisitive consumers" or "materialistic consumers" can provide alternative perspectives or tones depending on the intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avaricious buyers

Emphasizes the extreme greed and desire for wealth through purchasing.

acquisitive consumers

Focuses on the desire to acquire possessions, highlighting the act of gaining rather than the excess.

voracious shoppers

Uses a more intense adjective to describe the eagerness to consume.

insatiable shoppers

Highlights the inability to be satisfied, always wanting more.

materialistic consumers

Emphasizes the importance placed on material possessions and wealth.

self-indulgent consumers

Focuses on the pleasure-seeking aspect of consumption, highlighting the personal gratification derived from it.

extravagant spenders

Highlights the monetary aspect of excessive consumption.

over-consuming population

Highlights the act of consuming excessively as a collective behavior.

wasteful consumers

Focuses on the negative consequence of excessive consumption, namely waste.

consumerist society

Shifts the focus from individual consumers to the broader societal emphasis on consumption.

FAQs

How can I use "greedy consumers" in a sentence?

You can use "greedy consumers" to describe individuals who excessively purchase goods or services, often without regard for need or consequences. For example, "The rise of fast fashion has fueled a culture of "greedy consumers" who prioritize quantity over quality".

What are some alternatives to "greedy consumers"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "acquisitive consumers", "materialistic consumers", or "over-consuming population". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to label all consumers as "greedy consumers"?

No, labeling all consumers as "greedy consumers" is an overgeneralization. The term carries a negative connotation and should only be used when describing excessive and irresponsible consumption patterns. Using a more neutral term, such as "avid shoppers", is generally preferable.

What is the difference between "greedy consumers" and "avid shoppers"?

"Greedy consumers" implies a negative judgment about excessive consumption driven by greed. "Avid shoppers" is a more neutral term that simply describes people who enjoy shopping frequently and enthusiastically, without necessarily implying any negative consequences.