Avarice Definition – Meaning and Usage In A Sentence

Have you ever watched those investigative series where the culprit murders their spouse to collect a fat insurance cheque? It takes a high level of greed for someone to get to this extent to get what they want. If you’d like to describe such an action using one word but don’t know which one to use, “avarice” will fit appropriately; it’s even more interesting to know the avarice definition and usage in sentences.

The word avarice means “has an extreme desire to get wealth.” Use the word in various contexts to describe a desire greater than greed to obtain wealth. Other words that can be used as synonyms of avarice are money-grabbing, greed, covetousness, desire, cupidity, or avariciousness.

Whether you have previously heard of this word or it is your first time coming across it, we want you to be able to use the word “avarice” in your writing and speech without any doubt that can interfere with your confidence. In your journey to understanding everything in detail, we’ll focus on avarice definition, meaning, use in sentences, pronunciation, and history. Let’s now dig deeper,

What is the Definition of Avarice?

Avarice is an insatiable desire or cupidity to gain or hold on to material wealth. The word best describes a situation where someone has abnormal greed to get wealth. 

Though some people use avarice and greed interchangeably, avarice is far worse than greed since it can cause a person to go to great lengths to obtain wealth. The first thing that comes to mind at the thought of “any extent to acquire wealth” is definitely death. That tells you “avarice people” can go to the extent of killing.

An excellent example of avarice is when someone throws their business friend under the bus to get financial freedom, especially when the friend has loaned him or her some money. Totally disregarding the family’s feelings and situation after the action.

Here are some example sentences:

• The government warned investment firms against their avarice behavior that costs their clients billions in losses.
• Gang violence is fueled by mindless atrocities, avarice, and hatred, increasing gang-related deaths.

Does Avarice Associate With Greedy Obsession? 

The answer is yes! Avarice is also defined as “reprehensible, acquisitiveness, or an inordinate want or greed for something.” When someone has an extreme desire or greed for something or someone but with great obsession, such a person will do anything to get what they desire because they feel obsessed with it.

Obsession comes with some weird behaviors that cause a disturbance, such that a person has to actualize their intention to feel relieved. For instance, someone wanting something so much that they become sickly if they don’t have it is a form of avarice.

Here are some sentences incorporating the word avarice:

• You shouldn’t feel sorry for Fred; he’s a victim of his avarice.
• The cruelty and avarice of the leaders are the sole reasons why the country’s economy is in shambles.

What is the Meaning of Avarice?

Another meaning of the word avarice is “engaging in a particular action with the aim or desire of amassing great wealth.”

This definition specifically explains the situations where someone makes a plan or takes an action that will result in them gaining material wealth. In this case, there’s no harm recorded.

Avarice actions classified under this definition should not be confused with greed because goals carried out with obsessive avarice are selfish and generally harmful to others. A good example is going to college to get a well-paying job.

Here are some examples in sentences:

• Corruption, and murders, in conjunction with the avarice displayed by the company executives, led to the label’s downfall.
• Frank is well-known for his avarice and ambition, earning him his fair share of competitors.

How to Use Avarice in a Sentence

You can use avarice as a noun, adverb, and adjective. When used in this version, they describe a noun, state, or action.

Avarice as a Noun, Adverb, and Adjective

The word avarice is a noun. Another version of the noun form of avarice is avariciousness which means the quality or state of having an inordinate desire to gain wealth.

Here are some example sentences:

• Many Hip-Hop artists today have their star status dimmed due to drug addiction and avarice.
• The couple was arrested after their sheer avariciousness towards the adopted children was discovered.

When the word avarice is used as an adjective, the word changes to avaricious. The adjective version of the word describes the noun after it. The word also defines an action actuated by extreme desire or greed. The word “avarous” is also an acceptable adjective.

Here are some example sentences:

• The quantity of fish in the large lake has decreased significantly due to continuous careless fishing by the avaricious fishers.
• His avaricious character has prompted the finance committee to open investigations into his recent actions.

When you want to use the word as an adverb in sentences, it becomes “avariciously.” The word describes how a respective action was done; stingy or greedy.

Here are some example sentences:

• The man stopped the car and lowered his window to stare avariciously around the bank’s parking lot where the money was stashed.
• The conversation stopped for a moment when Nancy stared avariciously at Charles.

10 Examples of Avarice in a Sentence

You will easily know how to use a word if you learn from examples. It’s even more resourceful if you know how to use all the different word forms in sentences. We will now show you ten different examples of using avarice in all situations. You can try making some sentences on your own after reading these sentences.

1. The world we live in today is dominated by narcissism, corporatism, avarice, and phallocentrism.
2. He had a good thing going for him at his job, but due to recklessness and avarice, he couldn’t keep doing his job correctly; thus, he got fired.
3. Jennifer may be pretty, but she’s also notorious for her wit, avarice, and sheer ambition that has made her hated.
4. It would help if you didn’t have any contrition for individuals sent to prison due to their avarice behaviors.
5. The dean of students believes that those students that went on riot were avaricious and prone to anger, hate and violence.
6. Parents should be on the lookout for avarice children and facilitate counseling. It is one of the best ways to raise conscious and non-materialistic kids.
7. Mathew stopped talking and looked avariciously at the new Bugatti Chiron unveiled at the Dubai motor show.
8. The resort may have become bankrupt due to the actions of some avaricious managers.
9. I have never seen her enjoy looking at the pictures and going through the history books avariciously.
10. I believe that it’s time that clients gave a thought to abandoning those avaricious sales representatives that sell faulty goods.

How Do You Spell Avarice?

You should spell the word as a.v.a.r.i.c.e. 

It has seven characters with four vowels, making it an easy to spell the word. The easiest way to know how to spell this word and avoid confusion with rhyming words is to know the number of syllables and where to stress the word during the pronunciation.

How Do You Pronounce Avarice?

You can best pronounce this word as [a.vuh.ruhs].

When pronouncing the word avarice, it’s important to note that it has the silent letters “i” and “e.” Silent to mean you don’t pronounce them, but use them in spelling. To learn the accurate way of pronouncing such words, keep practicing. The sentences in this article should come in handy.

Synonyms Of The Word “Avarice”

• Greediness
• Stinginess
• Frugality
• Avidity
• Grabbiness

Antonyms Of The Word “Avarice”

• Philanthropy
• Generosity
• Bountifulness
• Magnanimity
• Unselfishness

How Many Syllables Are In Avarice?

The phrase avarice has three syllables; av.a.rice. 

The first syllable -av is the stressed part. That is where you put emphasis when pronouncing the word.

History & Etymology of Avarice

In the 13th century, the Old French word avarice was defined as “an inordinate desire of amassing or gaining wealth.”

The word also derives from avaritia, which comes from avarus, which means “an extreme desire, crave or be eager.” The word also traces its roots in Sanskrit avasa, a term used to refer to refreshment food. Other languages with similar words are Welsh ewylls and the Armenian awin, which means “lust.” These words later gave birth to the English word that we use today.

When Was Avarice First Used?

The word’s first use in English with its current meaning dates back to the 13th century.

Conclusion

It doesn’t take you a lot of time and understanding to learn avarice definition, meaning, and usage in sentences. Make it a habit to learn a new word every day. If you do it correctly, your writing at school or work will be quite easy. Now that you’re conversant with this word, don’t be afraid to embrace it.

Regular practice is among the ways English learners use to gain confidence when using the word in both speech and writing. Ready to learn more about this word, inquire from experts about aspects that need clarification, and don’t stop researching whenever something about the word comes up.