Synonyms of acquisitive

acquisitive

adjective

ə-ˈkwi-zə-tiv 

as in greedy

having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions

acquisitive developers are trying to tear down the historic home and build a shopping mall

Synonyms & Similar Words

• greedy
• mercenary
• eager
• avaricious
• covetous
• avid
• grasping
• coveting
• rapacious
• grabby
• materialistic
• moneygrubbing
• desirous
• insatiable
• egotistical
• ravenous
• miserly
• gluttonous
• piggish
• hoggish
• egocentric
• egoistical
• voracious
• devouring
• unquenchable
• discontented
• unsatisfied
• piggy
• swinish
• lickerish
• grudging
• itchy
• commercialistic
• egotistic
• resentful
• egoistic
• self-centered
• gobbling
• discontent
• malcontent
• begrudging
• self-seeking
• philistine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• generous
• liberal
• charitable
• altruistic
• unselfish
• magnanimous
• handsome
• selfless
• munificent
• controlled
• bountiful
• bounteous
• restrained
• unsparing
• moderate
• openhanded
• temperate
• nonmaterialistic
• content
• satisfied
• openhearted
• sated
• freehanded
• greathearted

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective acquisitive differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of acquisitive are avaricious, covetous, grasping, and greedy. While all these words mean "having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions," acquisitive implies both eagerness to possess and ability to acquire and keep.

an eagerly acquisitive mind

When could avaricious be used to replace acquisitive?

While in some cases nearly identical to acquisitive, avaricious implies obsessive acquisitiveness especially of money and strongly suggests stinginess.

an avaricious miser

When would covetous be a good substitute for acquisitive?

While the synonyms covetous and acquisitive are close in meaning, covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions.

covetous of his brother's country estate

How does the word grasping relate to other synonyms for acquisitive?

Grasping adds to covetous and greedy an implication of selfishness and often suggests unfair or ruthless means.

a hard grasping businesswoman who cheated her associates

When might greedy be a better fit than acquisitive?

The synonyms greedy and acquisitive are sometimes interchangeable, but greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire.

greedy for status symbols

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of acquisitive

The synergies that acquisitive CEOs routinely promise often fail to materialize, but in this instance there was never any realistic prospect for synergies. —Martin Fridson, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

But the dealer’s acquisitive focus often operated as a Midas touch, turning those around him into golden objects. —Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024

The aggregator continues to be acquisitive of other Shopify brands in categories such as health, apparel and consumer electronics, Rabois says. —Richard Collings, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024

Allen Media Group has been acquisitive over the past six years. —William Earl, Variety, 4 Sep. 2024

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