avaricious

/ˌˈævəˌrɪʃəs/

Someone who is avaricious is greedy or grasping, concerned with gaining wealth. The suggestion is that an avaricious person will do anything to achieve material gain, and it is, in general, not a pleasant attribute.

The Latin verb avēre, meaning "to crave" provides the groundwork for the word avaricious and its definition as "greedy or covetous." The adjective is applied to anyone who "craves" great wealth, and suggests that desire for personal gain is an overriding influence in the avaricious person's life. The widespread quality of this selfishness was cleverly noted by Voltaire, who wrote, “Men hate the individual whom they call avaricious only because nothing can be gained from him.”

Definitions of avaricious

1. adjective

   immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth
   “they are avaricious and will do anything for money”

   synonyms: covetous, grabby, grasping, greedy, prehensile

   acquisitive

   eager to acquire and possess things especially material possessions or ideas