covetous
/ˈkʌvətəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkʌvətəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkə-və-təs/ (ame, mw)
covetous — adjective
- covetouspositive
- more covetouscomparative
- most covetoussuperlative
1. feeling a very strong, often troubling desire for the money, possessions, or goo
feeling a very strong, often troubling desire for the money, possessions, or good fortune that another person has, and wishing you had them yourself
Chen felt covetous of his neighbor's new car, even though his own was perfectly fine.
be covetous of [something]: pattern for expressing envy
The abandoned mansion attracted covetous developers who saw only its potential profit.
attributive use: covetous developers / covetous looks
Amina tried to hide her covetous glances at Nadia's diamond bracelet during dinner.
The king's advisors grew rich and covetous, demanding more land with every season.
Diego's covetous nature made it hard for him to feel happy about his friends' achievements.
- greedy
broader — focuses on wanting more of anything (food, money), not necessarily what belongs to another; less formal than covetous
- envious
more emotional and less moral; describes the feeling of wanting what others have without the strong 'grasping' quality of covetous
- jealous
often includes fear of losing what you already have to a rival; can be romantic, while covetous is material
- acquisitive
more neutral and clinical; describes a person keen to acquire things without the moral judgment of covetous
文法句型
be covetous of [something]
covetous [noun]
用法筆記
Frequently used in formal or literary contexts. Strongly associated with the biblical commandment 'Thou shalt not covet,' giving the word a moral overtone that distinguishes it from more neutral words like 'envious.'