greedily

greedily — adverb

1. acting with a strong desire to take or hold on to more than what is fair or nece

1.adverbB2
Definition

acting with a strong desire to take or hold on to more than what is fair or necessary, especially when it comes to food, money, or possessions

Example

The children tore into the cake greedily, leaving crumbs all over the table.

greedily modifying eating action

The billionaire greedily bought up every apartment building in the neighborhood.

greedily modifying acquiring action

Synonyms
  • selfishly

    Focuses on ignoring others' needs rather than on taking excessive amounts

  • ravenously

    Restricted to eating or drinking with extreme hunger, not used for money or power

  • covetously

    More formal; emphasizes wanting what others have rather than just taking more

Antonyms
  • generously

    Describes giving rather than taking; the opposite moral quality

  • moderately

    Describes doing something within reasonable limits, the opposite of excess

Usage Note

Unlike neutral manner adverbs, 'greedily' nearly always expresses the speaker's disapproval of the excess. It is common in both formal and informal contexts to criticize selfish or unfair behaviour.

Common Mistakes

He greedily ate.
He ate greedily.
Manner adverbs like 'greedily' sound more natural after the verb when there is no direct object.

Word family

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

From Old English 'grædig' (hungry, eager), related to 'græd' (hunger). The modern sense shifted from physical hunger toward a broader moral judgment about excessive desire for wealth or possessions. German 'gierig' and Dutch 'gretig' share the same ancient root.