If you describe a person or an organization as acquisitive, you do not approve of them because you think they are too concerned with getting new possessions.
[disapproval]
We live in an acquisitive society.
The most acquisitive firms tend to be engineering groups.
Synonyms: greedy, grabbing, grasping, hungry More Synonyms of acquisitive
acquisitivenessuncountable noun
His villa is filled with evidence of his acquisitiveness.
Synonyms: greed, selfishness, avarice, rapacity More Synonyms of acquisitive
acquisitive in British English
(əˈkwɪzɪtɪv)
adjective
inclined or eager to acquire things, esp material possessions
we currently live in an acquisitive society
Derived forms
acquisitively (acˈquisitively)
adverb
acquisitiveness (acˈquisitiveness)
noun
acquisitive in American English
(əˈkwɪzətɪv)
adjective
eager to acquire; good at getting and holding wealth, etc.; grasping
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈgreedy
Derived forms
acquisitively (acˈquisitively)
adverb
acquisitiveness (acˈquisitiveness)
noun
Word origin
LL acquisitivus < pp. of L acquirere: see acquire
Examples of 'acquisitive' in a sentence
acquisitive
Judges will be encouraged to hand out shorter sentences for acquisitive crimes such as burglary and theft.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The deal is the second this month by the acquisitive Icelandic group.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
What we are dealing with is serious acquisitive crime - the basis for which is money.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
All are so-called acquisitive crimes linked to economic hard times.
The Sun (2009)
Other acquisitive crimes such as credit-card fraud and internet scams were also rising but were often not reported to the police.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The West was an acquisitive society.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
The company had an acquisitive 2011, but the supply of large deals has dried up.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He said yesterday: 'I am looking forward to working with such an acquisitive company.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Officials said that there had been a notable and surprising drop in acquisitive crimes, including burglary, theft and fraud.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
(adjective)
Definition
eager to gain material possessions
We live in an acquisitive society.
Synonyms
greedy
He attacked greedy bosses for awarding themselves big pay rises.
grabbing
grasping
She is a grasping and manipulative young woman.
hungry
I was hungry to be an actor.
selfish
the selfish interests of a few people
avid
He was avid for wealth.
predatory
rapacious
He had a rapacious appetite for bird's nest soup.
avaricious
I sacrificed my career so that my avaricious brother could succeed.
desirous
covetous
His sports car was attracting covetous stares.
Opposites
liberal
,
generous
,
lavish
,
bountiful
,
unselfish
,
open-handed
,
unstinting
,
bounteous
,
munificent
Additional synonyms
in the sense of avaricious
I sacrificed my career so that my avaricious brother could succeed.