covetousness

/ˈkʌvətəsnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkʌvətəsnəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkə-və-təs-nəs/ (ame, mw)

covetousness — 名詞

1. a deep, often unhappy desire to own something that belongs to another person, su

1.名詞C1
釋義

覬覦

對他人之物的強烈渴望

a deep, often unhappy desire to own something that belongs to another person, such as their property, money, or success

例句

Mei-Lin felt a sharp pang of covetousness when her friend showed off the new handmade dining table.

Mei-Lin 看到朋友展示那張新的手工餐桌時，心中湧起一陣強烈的覬覦。

collocation: felt + covetousness; covetousness + when [event]

The novel traces how covetousness for a neighbour's estate destroys an otherwise decent family.

這部小說描述了對鄰居房產的覬覦如何毀掉一個原本正常的家庭。

pattern: covetousness + for + [possession]

同義詞
  • envy

    softer and more common; focuses on wanting what someone else has, not necessarily wanting to take it

  • greed

    broader — desire for more of anything (food, money, power), not specifically what belongs to others

  • avarice

    narrower — strictly desire for wealth or money, with an implied stinginess

  • cupidity

    very formal and literary; a strong desire for money or possessions, similar to avarice

反義詞
  • contentment

    being satisfied with what one already has

  • generosity

    willingness to give rather than to take from others

文法句型

covetousness + of + [something/someone's possession]

covetousness + for + [something]

用法筆記

Frequently occurs in literary, ethical, or religious contexts. Unlike the milder envy, covetousness carries a stronger moral judgment — it implies a desire not just to admire what another has, but to possess it oneself. The word is rarely used in everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌She felt covetousness when her friend got a compliment at work.
✅She felt envy when her friend got a compliment at work.
💡Envy is the right word for wanting the same recognition; covetousness implies wanting to take the friend's object or status away from them.
❌His covetousness for food made him eat four bowls of rice.
✅His greed for food made him eat four bowls of rice.
💡Greed is an excessive desire for more of something for yourself; covetousness specifically targets what belongs to another person.