covetous Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages
    jealous; envious.
    • he was never covetous before he met her
    • jealous of his success and covetous of his possessions
    • envious of their art collection
  2. adjective satellite immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth
    prehensile; greedy; avaricious; grasping; grabby.
    • they are avaricious and will do anything for money
    • casting covetous eyes on his neighbor's fields
    • a grasping old miser
    • grasping commercialism
    • greedy for money and power
    • grew richer and greedier
    • prehensile employers stingy with raises for their employees

WordNet

Cov"et*ous adjective
Etymology
OF. coveitos, F. convoiteux. See Covet, v. t.
Definitions
  1. Very desirous; eager to obtain; -- used in a good sense. Archaic
    Covetous of wisdom and fair virtue. Shak.
    Covetous death bereaved us all, To aggrandize one funeral. Emerson.
  2. Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess (esp. money); avaricious; -- in a bad sense.
    The covetous person lives as if the world were madealtogether for him, and not he for the world. South.
    Syn. -- Avaricious; parsimonious; penurious; misrely; niggardly. See Avaricious.

Webster 1913