as in greed
an intense selfish desire for wealth or possessions
the bank official's embezzlement was motivated by pure avarice
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Recent Examples of avarice
Parts of its past are marred by injustice, avarice and bigotry.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2025
The attacks on law firms and lawyers, even as Chicago’s own Jenner & Block bravely resists, has nonetheless led to other firms with major offices in our city simply capitulating out of avarice or cowardice.
—Michael Pfleger, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
It is said that greed and avarice are the oldest human sins.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
This was not the only time Steel tried to cast Mia as motivated by avarice.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for avarice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avarice
greed
Noun
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The president is a man of low character, driven by greed, insecurity and revenge.—
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The themes of poverty, greed and love, that’s the part that the viewers are putting into their enjoyment of the movie.—
Cite this Entry
“Avarice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avarice. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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