What does greediest mean?
Greediest is the superlative of greedy, describing someone or something that has an especially strong or excessive desire for money, possessions, food, or another resource. It commonly conveys disapproval when applied to people, particularly in discussions of business, wealth, and consumption: the greediest bidder may be portrayed as demanding an unfairly large share. The word can also be used more playfully or neutrally when comparing appetites, ambitions, speeds, or quantities, as in “the greediest appetite” or “the greediest of them all.” Because it is a regular superlative ending in -iest, greediest belongs to a productive English pattern that allows many adjectives to express the highest degree of a quality. Its vivid moral force makes it especially effective when emphasizing conspicuous excess, insatiable desire, or relentless competition.
adjectiveHaving an excessive or insatiable desire for more than one needs, especially money or possessions. It is the superlative form of greedy and can also mean the most hungry or eager in a particular situation.
- Having the strongest or most excessive desire for wealth, possessions, food, or another resource; excessively acquisitive.
"The greediest shareholders demanded an even larger share of the profits."
"Of all the bidders, the greedy estate developer proved the greediest."
"The children competed to see who had the greediest appetite for cake."
When one comparison is not enough, greediest is the word that asks who wants more.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of greediest
Greediest is the standard English superlative of greedy, formed by adding the productive suffix -est to the base adjective. Greedy comes from Old English grēdig, meaning “greedy” or “excessively desirous,” while greed is the related inherited noun. These English forms belong to the Germanic word family, with cognates in other Germanic languages. The comparative and superlative endings in greedier and greediest were formed within English through the regular inflectional system rather than borrowed as separate words.
How greediest is actually used
The word is usually negative when describing a person's attitude toward money or possessions, but it can be more neutral when referring to the largest appetite, demand, or rate in a comparison.
Easily confused with greediest
Greedy is the base adjective, while greediest is its superlative form, meaning more greedy than others in a group or comparison.