Greed is an intense and often insatiable desire for something, whether it be money, power, or possessions. It can take over a person, leading them to want more than they need or deserve. Describing greed in simple terms can be difficult, but similes help us paint a vivid picture of how powerful and overwhelming greed can feel. By comparing greed to familiar objects or situations, we can better understand just how consuming this emotion can be. In this article, we’ll explore various similes that help describe greed, each providing a unique way to express the intensity of this desire.
Similes for Greed
1. Greedy as a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Meaning: Appearing innocent or harmless while secretly harboring harmful or selfish intentions.
In a Sentence: He was as greedy as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, pretending to be generous and kind while secretly plotting to take over the business for himself.
Other Ways to Say: Cunningly selfish, Deceptively manipulative
2. Greedy as a pig at the trough
Meaning: Consuming more than one needs, often in a wasteful or gluttonous manner.
In a Sentence: She was as greedy as a pig at the trough, grabbing more food than anyone else at the buffet and piling her plate high even though she couldn’t possibly eat it all.
Other Ways to Say: Greedily indulgent, Ravenous
3. Greedy as a cat with nine lives
Meaning: Taking advantage of every opportunity, constantly wanting more despite already having plenty.
In a Sentence: His desire for power was as greedy as a cat with nine lives, never satisfied with the success he had and always looking for ways to climb higher, even at the expense of others.
Other Ways to Say: Unquenchably ambitious, Always reaching for more
4. Greedy as a hoarder with treasures
Meaning: Accumulating things excessively and unwilling to part with them, even when it’s unnecessary.
In a Sentence: She was as greedy as a hoarder with treasures, stockpiling wealth and luxury items while others around her struggled to make ends meet.
Other Ways to Say: Possessively materialistic, Reluctant to share
5. Greedy as a dragon guarding its gold
Meaning: Protecting one’s wealth or possessions fiercely, not wanting to share or give anything away.
In a Sentence: His greed was as fierce as a dragon guarding its gold, hoarding every penny he earned and refusing to contribute to any charitable cause, even when he had more than enough.
Other Ways to Say: Selfishly protective, Guarding everything with suspicion
6. Greedy as a bear before hibernation
Meaning: Stuffing oneself excessively in preparation for something, taking advantage of every opportunity to consume.
In a Sentence: She was as greedy as a bear before hibernation, hoarding as many items as she could during the sale, convinced she’d never find such deals again, even though she didn’t need any of it.
Other Ways to Say: Overindulgent, Stockpiling for the future
7. Greedy as a crow with shiny objects
Meaning: Attracted to and collecting things that appear valuable, often just for the sake of having them.
In a Sentence: He was as greedy as a crow with shiny objects, taking everything he could from the office, even items that weren’t useful, just because they looked important or valuable.
Other Ways to Say: Obsessed with material wealth, Drawn to flashy things
8. Greedy as a child in a candy store
Meaning: Overwhelmed by desire and indulging without concern for limits or consequences.
In a Sentence: His greed was as uncontrolled as a child in a candy store, grabbing as much as he could without thinking about the long-term effects of his actions.
Other Ways to Say: Overexcited, Unrestrained in desires
9. Greedy as a spider spinning its web
Meaning: Slowly and methodically taking everything within reach, building up a complex system of accumulation.
In a Sentence: Her greed was as patient as a spider spinning its web, steadily making deals that furthered her wealth, trapping others into agreements that benefitted her alone.
Other Ways to Say: Methodically exploiting, Opportunistically accumulating
10. Greedy as a shark circling its prey
Meaning: Always on the lookout for the next opportunity to consume or take advantage of others.
In a Sentence: His greed was as relentless as a shark circling its prey, always looking for the next chance to close a deal that would make him even wealthier, no matter who it hurt along the way.
Other Ways to Say: Predatory, Constantly seeking opportunities
11. Greedy as a fire consuming dry wood
Meaning: Spreading quickly and relentlessly, consuming everything in its path without any regard for limits.
In a Sentence: His greed was as consuming as a fire consuming dry wood, spreading throughout the company and burning everyone around him just to claim more power.
Other Ways to Say: All-consuming, Devouring everything in its path
12. Greedy as a leech sucking blood
Meaning: Constantly taking from others without giving anything back, draining them of their resources.
In a Sentence: He was as greedy as a leech sucking blood, constantly borrowing money from friends with no intention of ever repaying them.
Other Ways to Say: Exploitative, Drain on resources
13. Greedy as a raccoon in a trash can
Meaning: Going after everything, even the things others would discard, with no regard for what’s necessary.
In a Sentence: Her greed was as relentless as a raccoon in a trash can, digging through whatever she could find to get her hands on more, regardless of its true value.
Other Ways to Say: Overzealous in pursuit, Desperate for anything
14. Greedy as a hungry lion in a field of gazelles
Meaning: Always looking for the next opportunity to consume, hunting relentlessly.
In a Sentence: He was as greedy as a hungry lion in a field of gazelles, always scanning for new investments to pounce on, regardless of who might get hurt in the process.
Other Ways to Say: Ruthlessly competitive, Always on the prowl
15. Greedy as a child with a pocket full of candy
Meaning: Overindulgent and unable to stop taking more, even when there’s already enough.
In a Sentence: His greed was as evident as a child with a pocket full of candy, shoving more sweets into his mouth without a second thought about what he had already eaten.
Other Ways to Say: Incessantly indulgent, Gluttonous
16. Greedy as a snake in the grass
Meaning: Sneaky and hidden in its greed, striking when least expected.
In a Sentence: His greed was as sly as a snake in the grass, quietly gathering wealth behind the scenes while appearing harmless to those around him.
Other Ways to Say: Deceptively greedy, Underhanded in desires
17. Greedy as an octopus with many arms
Meaning: Reaching out in all directions, trying to grab everything in sight.
In a Sentence: She was as greedy as an octopus with many arms, constantly trying to take control of every business opportunity, no matter how small.
Other Ways to Say: Overreaching, Excessively grasping
18. Greedy as a jackal in a desert
Meaning: Taking advantage of even the most barren situations, exploiting every opportunity.
In a Sentence: He was as greedy as a jackal in a desert, scavenging for anything he could get his hands on, even when there wasn’t much to find.
Other Ways to Say: Opportunistic, Exploiting the weak
19. Greedy as a vulture circling above
Meaning: Waiting for someone to falter or fail, so it can swoop in and take advantage.
In a Sentence: Her greed was as ominous as a vulture circling above, waiting for the company to lose value so she could buy it up at a discount.
Other Ways to Say: Predatory, Waiting for the perfect moment
20. Greedy as a fox in a henhouse
Meaning: Sneaking in where it isn’t welcome to take everything available.
In a Sentence: His greed was as cunning as a fox in a henhouse, taking advantage of every opportunity to gather wealth without anyone noticing.
Other Ways to Say: Sneaky and opportunistic, Acting with hidden motives
21. Greedy as a termite in a house
Meaning: Slowly and steadily consuming what’s available, eventually causing complete destruction.
In a Sentence: His greed was as insidious as a termite in a house, quietly eating away at everything he could, leaving a trail of damage behind him without anyone noticing until it was too late.
Other Ways to Say: Destructive in nature, Undetectably harmful
22. Greedy as a wolf pack hunting together
Meaning: Working together to take everything, with no concern for others’ needs or well-being.
In a Sentence: The corporation was as greedy as a wolf pack hunting together, devouring everything in their path without leaving anything behind for the smaller businesses.
Other Ways to Say: Ruthlessly collective, Unrelenting in pursuit
23. Greedy as a crow with a shiny rock
Meaning: Attracted to something that appears valuable, even if it’s ultimately worthless.
In a Sentence: He was as greedy as a crow with a shiny rock, taking credit for others’ ideas simply because they appeared important, even though they had no real worth.
Other Ways to Say: Deceptively attracted, Blindly coveting
24. Greedy as a wolf hoarding its kill
Meaning: Keeping all the resources for oneself, not sharing even with others who need it.
In a Sentence: His greed was as harsh as a wolf hoarding its kill, refusing to share any of his fortune with the community, even though he could easily afford to.
Other Ways to Say: Selfishly possessive, Hoarding everything
25. Greedy as a raccoon with a full trash can
Meaning: Overloading oneself with things that are not needed, even when there’s no room for more.
In a Sentence: She was as greedy as a raccoon with a full trash can, piling up every unnecessary item she could find, even when she had no space to store it.
Other Ways to Say: Overstuffed, Uncontrolled accumulation
26. Greedy as a lioness with a fresh kill
Meaning: Taking more than what is needed or fair, holding onto everything without mercy.
In a Sentence: His greed was as fierce as a lioness with a fresh kill, grabbing every opportunity for profit, leaving others with nothing.
Other Ways to Say: Ruthlessly territorial, Excessively possessive
27. Greedy as a shark in blood-filled waters
Meaning: Taking advantage of a vulnerable situation to exploit others.
In a Sentence: He was as greedy as a shark in blood-filled waters, waiting for any chance to corner the market and crush his competition.
Other Ways to Say: Predatory, Exploitative
28. Greedy as an emperor in a palace of gold
Meaning: Having everything one could need and yet still wanting more.
In a Sentence: His greed was as limitless as an emperor in a palace of gold, surrounded by unimaginable wealth yet still scheming for more.
Other Ways to Say: Unquenchably ambitious, Never satisfied
29. Greedy as a squirrel with a stash of acorns
Meaning: Collecting and hoarding everything available for future gain, even if it’s unnecessary.
In a Sentence: She was as greedy as a squirrel with a stash of acorns, hoarding money from her clients without ever thinking about how much she really needed.
Other Ways to Say: Excessively cautious, Hoarding for no reason
30. Greedy as a dog with a bone
Meaning: Clinging to something that one already possesses, refusing to share or let go.
In a Sentence: He was as greedy as a dog with a bone, refusing to part with any of his investments, even when he had no use for them.
Other Ways to Say: Selfishly protective, Reluctantly generous
31. Greedy as a spider weaving its web
Meaning: Slowly and methodically building up wealth or power by taking everything in sight.
In a Sentence: His greed was as patient as a spider weaving its web, slowly ensnaring everything in its path to create a network of control and influence.
Other Ways to Say: Stealthily opportunistic, Methodical in accumulation
32. Greedy as a rabbit hoarding carrots
Meaning: Taking more than necessary, especially for the future, without sharing.
In a Sentence: She was as greedy as a rabbit hoarding carrots, stockpiling everything she could get her hands on even though there was no immediate need.
Other Ways to Say: Excessively cautious, Storing for no reason
33. Greedy as a vulture waiting for a meal
Meaning: Waiting for someone else to fail or be vulnerable, so one can take advantage.
In a Sentence: His greed was as opportunistic as a vulture waiting for a meal, hovering over his competitors, ready to swoop in as soon as they showed signs of weakness.
Other Ways to Say: Exploitative, Preying on others
34. Greedy as a jackal scavenging in the wild
Meaning: Taking what is left behind by others, often without a sense of gratitude or fairness.
In a Sentence: He was as greedy as a jackal scavenging in the wild, picking apart every leftover business opportunity, no matter how small or insignificant.
Other Ways to Say: Opportunistic, Slyly taking what’s left
35. Greedy as an octopus grabbing everything
Meaning: Reaching out with multiple efforts to collect as much as possible, often beyond what is necessary.
In a Sentence: His greed was as overwhelming as an octopus grabbing everything, reaching out to every deal, even if they were not in his best interest.
Other Ways to Say: Overreaching, Grasping for more
36. Greedy as a hawk circling for prey
Meaning: Watching carefully and waiting for the right moment to swoop in and take what is available.
In a Sentence: His greed was as calculating as a hawk circling for prey, waiting for the right moment to strike and take everything for himself.
Other Ways to Say: Waiting to seize an opportunity, Calculating in pursuit
37. Greedy as a king with an ever-expanding empire
Meaning: Continually seeking more, never satisfied with what one already has.
In a Sentence: He was as greedy as a king with an ever-expanding empire, always looking to conquer more territory and add to his already vast holdings.
Other Ways to Say: Unrelenting in expansion, Constantly seeking more
38. Greedy as a cow in a field of grass
Meaning: Taking more than enough, even when there is plenty available.
In a Sentence: His greed was as mindless as a cow in a field of grass, eating more than it needed, with no regard for how much was left for others.
Other Ways to Say: Overindulgent, Consuming without thought
39. Greedy as a rat with a stash of cheese
Meaning: Collecting everything available, often without concern for others or for excess.
In a Sentence: She was as greedy as a rat with a stash of cheese, hoarding every opportunity and refusing to share any of her wealth with those around her.
Other Ways to Say: Selfishly stockpiling, Taking more than needed
40. Greedy as a fox in a henhouse
Meaning: Sneakily taking what is not theirs, exploiting a situation for personal gain.
In a Sentence: His greed was as sneaky as a fox in a henhouse, carefully picking apart every deal without anyone noticing his true intentions.
Other Ways to Say: Cunning in pursuit, Exploitative in nature
41. Greedy as a raven with a shiny object
Meaning: Attracted to things that appear valuable, even if they have no real worth.
In a Sentence: His greed was as distracting as a raven with a shiny object, constantly seeking new ways to flaunt his wealth without truly appreciating what he already had.
Other Ways to Say: Focusing on superficial gains, Obsessed with appearances
42. Greedy as a pig in a slop trough
Meaning: Excessively eating or consuming, often with a lack of consideration for others.
In a Sentence: She was as greedy as a pig in a slop trough, taking all of the best food at the party while others were left with little to nothing.
Other Ways to Say: Gluttonous, Greedily overindulgent
43. Greedy as a dragon with an endless hoard
Meaning: Holding onto everything one possesses, refusing to share even when there is more than enough.
In a Sentence: He was as greedy as a dragon with an endless hoard, clutching his fortune tightly and never letting go, even when he had no use for it.
Other Ways to Say: Possessively hoarding, Unwilling to share
44. Greedy as a raccoon with a full pantry
Meaning: Collecting and hoarding more than needed, even when there’s no immediate purpose.
In a Sentence: His greed was as unnecessary as a raccoon with a full pantry, taking more money from clients than was ever needed, just for the sake of keeping it.
Other Ways to Say: Unnecessarily stockpiling, Hoarding resources
45. Greedy as a clam with a pearl
Meaning: Holding onto something precious and refusing to share or release it.
In a Sentence: She was as greedy as a clam with a pearl, refusing to let go of her wealth or possessions even though she could afford to be more generous.
Other Ways to Say: Possessively clinging, Holding onto value
46. Greedy as an elephant in a food market
Meaning: Consuming everything in sight with no thought of others or for the consequences.
In a Sentence: His greed was as overwhelming as an elephant in a food market, taking all the resources for himself and leaving nothing for anyone else.
Other Ways to Say: Consuming recklessly, Overpoweringly selfish
47. Greedy as a dog guarding a bone
Meaning: Extremely protective of something, unwilling to let anyone else have access to it.
In a Sentence: He was as greedy as a dog guarding a bone, unwilling to share any of his business secrets, even with trusted partners.
Other Ways to Say: Overprotective, Reluctantly sharing
48. Greedy as a lioness protecting her cubs
Meaning: Fiercely protective, not allowing others to take or use what belongs to them.
In a Sentence: His greed was as fierce as a lioness protecting her cubs, ensuring no one could take advantage of his wealth or power.
Other Ways to Say: Fiercely possessive, Relentlessly guarding
49. Greedy as a spider catching every fly
Meaning: Taking advantage of every opportunity to increase one’s own gain, often to the detriment of others.
In a Sentence: Her greed was as methodical as a spider catching every fly, ensuring that she took every opportunity to benefit, no matter who else was affected.
Other Ways to Say: Opportunistically exploiting, Slyly accumulating
50. Greedy as a farmer hoarding grain
Meaning: Storing and hoarding what is valuable, refusing to share it despite having an abundance.
In a Sentence: His greed was as relentless as a farmer hoarding grain, keeping his wealth to himself even as others around him were in need.
Other Ways to Say: Reluctantly giving, Secretly accumulating
Practical Exercise
Now that you’ve explored all these similes for greed, let’s practice using them! Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the appropriate simile for greed. Use your creativity and think about how each simile might fit into different situations involving greed.
- When the company’s CEO demanded an extra bonus despite already having millions, he was as greedy as a _______ in a food market.
- She hoarded all the limited edition shoes, even though she already had a closet full, acting as greedy as a _______ with a shiny object.
- His greed was as fierce as a _______ guarding a bone, refusing to share even the smallest part of his fortune with anyone.
- The billionaire was as greedy as a _______ with an endless hoard, always looking for ways to add to his already massive wealth.
- He was as greedy as a _______ in a trash can, picking up every little opportunity, no matter how small or insignificant.
- The wealthy investor was as greedy as a _______ circling for prey, constantly looking for vulnerable companies to buy out.
- After getting one promotion, she immediately started pushing for another, her greed as relentless as a _______ circling its prey.
- He was as greedy as a _______ with a full trash can, constantly taking and never once thinking about sharing any of the wealth he accumulated.
- Their greed was as consuming as a _______ weaving its web, slowly and carefully taking over the industry without anyone noticing.
- He treated his business like a _______ in a henhouse, taking every opportunity to exploit others for his own gain.
Answers
- Elephant in a food market
- Crow with a shiny object
- Dog guarding a bone
- Dragon with an endless hoard
- Raccoon with a trash can
- Vulture circling for prey
- Fox in a henhouse
- Raccoon with a full trash can
- Spider weaving its web
- Fox in a henhouse
Conclusion
Greed is a powerful and often destructive emotion. Through these similes, we can better understand how greed consumes and takes over, whether it’s in the form of hoarding, exploiting, or continuously wanting more. By using these creative comparisons, we can express the intensity and destructiveness of greed in a more relatable and vivid way. Whether it’s as a dragon hoarding gold or a pig at the trough, similes help illustrate the overwhelming nature of this emotion. Keep practicing these expressions to add more color and depth to your understanding of greed!