Meaning & use
covetous
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparableformalliterarydisapproving
Wanting very much to have something that belongs to another person, often in a greedy or jealous way.
Grammar: Often followed by of or used before a noun: covetous of his neighbor's land.
Patterns
- be covetous of something
- cast a covetous eye on something
The king was covetous of his brother's rich lands.
She gave the diamond a covetous glance.
A covetous neighbor may grow jealous of any improvement to your home.
adjectivecomparableformalold-fashioned
Excessively eager to gain money or possessions.
Grammar: Describes a greedy character in general, without a specific object.
Patterns
- a covetous person
The covetous merchant never gave a coin to charity.
History remembers him as a covetous and grasping landlord.
Their covetous nature made them poor friends.
Word forms
| comparative | more covetous |
|---|---|
| superlative | most covetous |
Common combinations
- covetous eyes
- Visitors cast covetous eyes on the antique clock.
- covetous glance
- He gave the new bicycle a covetous glance.
- covetous of
- The rival firm was covetous of our client list.
- covetous nature
- His covetous nature made it hard for him to be content.
- covetous look
- A covetous look crossed her face when she saw the ring.
Synonyms and how they differ
- envious
- Envious is the everyday word and focuses on bitter feelings toward someone's good fortune, while covetous stresses wanting the thing itself.
- greedy
- Greedy describes wanting too much of anything, but covetous points to wanting what someone else owns.
- jealous
- Jealous often concerns a person or relationship, while covetous concerns possessions or property.
- acquisitive
- Acquisitive is more neutral and describes a habit of collecting things, with less of the moral criticism of covetous.
Opposites
Word family
- covet verb
- to want something that belongs to someone else
- covetously adverb
- in a greedy, longing way
- covetousness noun
- strong desire for another's possessions
- coveted adjective
- greatly desired by many people
Commonly confused: covetous or coveted?
covetous vs coveted
Coveted describes the thing that is greatly wanted, such as a coveted prize, while covetous describes the person who wants.
Practice
The collector was ______ of the rare stamp his rival owned, and began to plan how to get it.
Choose one answer.
Covetous of means longing for something belonging to someone else. Generous, indifferent and grateful do not explain why he plans to get it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “covetous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.