covetous

Covetous is an adjective used to describe a person who has an intense, often inordinate desire to possess something, especially something that belongs to someone else. This desire is typically seen as greedy or envious rather than merely aspirational, and it is usually expressed as disapproval in moral, ethical, or social contexts. The term often appears in discussions of character, virtue, and self-control, and it can describe a disposition as well as a particular desire.

In religious and philosophical traditions, covetousness is commonly treated as a vice or moral failing. For example, in Judeo-Christian contexts the commandment against coveting is cited as a prohibition on greedy, unhealthy longing for others’ possessions, rather than on ordinary admiration or ambition. In secular writing, covetousness is associated with materialism, rivalry, and an excessive focus on wealth or status.

The noun covetousness denotes the state or quality of coveting, while the related verb is to covet. Synonyms include greedy, acquisitive, grasping, and avaricious; antonyms include content, satisfied, and generous. The term is often used in literary, ethical, or cultural analysis to critique behavior that pursues possessions at the expense of fairness, generosity, or personal well-being.