Definition of: avaricious

(av′ə·rish′əs) adjective
Greedy of gain; grasping; miserly.
—av′a·ri′cious·ly adverb
—av′a·ri′cious·ness noun Synonyms: close, covetous, greedy, miserly, niggardly, parsimonious, penurious, rapacious, sordid, stingy. The avaricious man desires both to get and to keep, the covetous man to get something away from its possessor; miserly and niggardly persons seek to gain by mean and petty savings; the miserly by stinting themselves, the niggardly by stinting others. Parsimonious and penurious may apply to one's outlay either for himself or for others; in the latter use, they are somewhat less harsh and reproachful terms than niggardly. Greedy and stingy are used not only of money, but often of other things, as food, etc. The greedy child tries to get everything for himself; the stingy child, to keep others from getting what he has. Antonyms: bountiful, free, generous, liberal, munificent, prodigal, wasteful.