Similes for greed help us describe the consuming nature of desire in vivid and relatable ways. If you’ve ever wondered as greedy as what?, or searched for the perfect as greedy as simile to capture selfishness or excess, this guide has exactly what you need. From writers asking as greedy as a… to storytellers building flawed characters, these comparisons offer powerful tools for expression.
From phrases like as greedy as a rat in a grain sack to as hungry as fire consuming wood, these greedy similes turn abstract greed into concrete, memorable imagery. Use them in storytelling, poetry, or daily conversation to give your words impact and emotional depth.
These similes for greed don’t just describe—they expose how greed shapes behavior, decisions, and even entire narratives. With the right comparisons, you can show how desire crosses the line from need to obsession.
Similes for Greed – As Greedy as Simile Examples
These similes capture the essence of greed with striking comparisons. Each simile for greed help describe intense desire and selfishness in creative ways.
1. As greedy as a wolf
Meaning: Refers to someone who is extremely eager to take more than what they need, similar to how a wolf hunts for its prey without hesitation.
- The businessman was as greedy as a wolf, always hunting for the next opportunity to expand his empire.”
- Her actions were as greedy as a wolf, consuming everything in sight without regard for others.”
Other Ways to Say:
- “As hungry as a bear” 🐻
- “As grasping as a hyena” 🐾
- “As ravenous as a shark” 🦈
2. As insatiable as a bottomless pit
Meaning: Someone whose greed is never satisfied, no matter how much they accumulate.
- No matter how many deals he made, his greed remained as insatiable as a bottomless pit.”
- Her desire for wealth was as insatiable as a bottomless pit, always craving more.”
Other Ways to Say:
- “As hungry as an endless furnace” 🔥
- “As empty as a black hole” 🌌
- “As voracious as an open flame” 🔥
3. As relentless as a tide
Meaning: Describes someone whose greed keeps coming back, just like the tide, never ceasing.
- His greed was as relentless as the tide, always pushing for more and more.”
- The corporation’s greed was as relentless as a tide, swallowing up smaller businesses along the way.”
Other Ways to Say:
- “As constant as the sun” 🌞
- “As unyielding as a storm” 🌩️
- “As enduring as a river’s flow” 🌊
4. As greedy as a fox
Meaning: Refers to someone cunning and eager to gain advantage or wealth, much like a fox known for its clever hunting.
Example Sentences:
- The trader was as greedy as a fox, always finding ways to benefit at others’ expense.
- Her schemes were as greedy as a fox, always seeking more profit.
Other Ways to Say:
- “As crafty as a spider” 🕷️
- “As tricky as a raccoon” 🦝
- “As sneaky as a serpent” 🐍
5. As greedy as a miser
Meaning: Someone who clings to wealth, never satisfied and constantly seeking more.
- The old man was as greedy as a miser, hoarding every penny he made.”
- Her greed was as grasping as a miser, never sharing even a dime with those in need.”
Other Ways to Say:
- “As hoarding as a dragon with gold” 🐉
- “As tight-fisted as a clam” 🦪
- “As selfish as a Scrooge” 🪙
6. As greedy as a bear in winter
Meaning: Describes someone who is greedily seeking something, often referring to a strong emotional desire.
- Her appetite for power was as greedy as a bear in winter, always seeking more.”
- He approached every opportunity with the hunger of a bear in winter, not stopping until he had it all.”
Other Ways to Say:
- “As thirsty as a desert” 🏜️
- “As eager as a hawk” 🦅
- “As desperate as a drowning man” 🌊
7. As greedy as a cat with a mouse
Meaning: Describes someone who is greedily protective of their possessions, afraid of losing them.
- He was as greedy as a cat with a mouse, unwilling to share any of his newfound wealth.”
- Her jealousy was as greedy as a cat with a mouse, unwilling to let anyone take what was rightfully hers.”
Other Ways to Say:
- “As envious as a crow with shiny objects” 🦢
- “As possessive as a lioness with cubs” 🦁
- “As selfish as a magpie” 🦜
8. As greedy as a rabbit in a trap
Meaning: Describes a person whose greed makes them act irrationally or in a panic.
- He became as greedy as a rabbit in a trap, desperately searching for ways to make more money.”
- The company’s greed made them as frantic as a rabbit in a trap, pushing them to take reckless risks.”
Other Ways to Say:
- “As wild as a squirrel in a storm” 🐿️
- “As panicked as a deer caught in headlights” 🦌
- “As anxious as a hen in a fox’s den” 🦊
9. As cold as ice
Meaning: Greed that leaves a person emotionally detached, indifferent to others’ suffering.
- Her heart was as cold as ice, showing no remorse as she took advantage of the situation.”
- He was as cold as ice when it came to his pursuit of wealth, willing to step on anyone in his way.”
Other Ways to Say:
- “As heartless as a stone” 🪨
- “As indifferent as a brick” 🧱
- “As unfeeling as a glacier” ❄️
10. As greedy as a bull in a china shop
Meaning: Describes someone whose greed makes them recklessly angry or destructive.
- He was as greedy as a bull in a china shop when his profits started to dip.”
- Her greed made her as greedy as a bull in a china shop, causing chaos in the boardroom.”
Other Ways to Say:
- “As wild as a lion in a cage” 🦁
- “As destructive as a tornado” 🌪️
- “As violent as a thunderstorm” ⛈️
11. As greedy as a cheetah
Meaning: Describes someone or something that is extremely fast, especially when it comes to taking advantage of a situation for personal gain.
- He acted as fast as a cheetah, securing the deal before anyone else had a chance.”
- Her greed made her move as fast as a cheetah, seizing every opportunity that came her way.”
Other Ways to Say:
- “As quick as lightning” ⚡
- “As swift as an eagle” 🦅
- “As fast as a rocket” 🚀
12. As greedy as an ox
Meaning: Describes someone with the physical strength to pursue their desires, often used metaphorically to describe greed’s persistence.
- He was as greedy as an ox, carrying his burden of greed with unwavering determination.”
- Her ambition was as strong as an ox, making her relentlessly chase after success.”
Other Ways to Say:
- “As sturdy as a tree” 🌳
- “As tough as steel” 🛠️
- “As solid as a mountain” 🏔️
13. As light as a feather
Meaning: Describes someone whose greed may not seem burdensome but accumulates easily, affecting others unnoticed.
- At first, her actions were as light as a feather, but soon, the weight of her greed became impossible to ignore.”
- His greed was as light as a feather at first, but it gradually took a heavy toll on those around him.”
Other Ways to Say:
- “As delicate as a snowflake” ❄️
- “As airy as a puff of smoke” 🌬️
- “As gentle as a breeze” 🌬️
As greedy as a squirrel
Meaning: Describes someone who hoards resources or wealth obsessively, like a squirrel storing nuts for winter.
Example Sentences:
- She was as greedy as a squirrel, hiding away every penny she earned.
- His saving habits were as greedy as a squirrel’s, never willing to share.
Other Ways to Say:
- “As hoarding as a dragon” 🐉
- “As stingy as a hermit crab” 🦀
- “As clutching as a monkey” 🐒
As greedy as a shark
Meaning: Represents an aggressive and relentless desire to take or consume, much like a shark’s constant hunt for food.
Example Sentences:
- The investor was as greedy as a shark, circling the market for the next big deal.
- His appetite for power was as greedy as a shark, never satisfied.
Other Ways to Say:
- “As insatiable as a fire” 🔥
- “As grasping as a vulture” 🦅
- “As devouring as a lion” 🦁
As greedy as a magpie
Meaning: Describes someone who collects or takes shiny or valuable things obsessively, like a magpie attracted to glittering objects.
Example Sentences:
- He was as greedy as a magpie, always snatching up every chance to gain more wealth.
- Her fingers were as greedy as a magpie’s, grabbing every jewel within reach.
Other Ways to Say:
- “As acquisitive as a squirrel” 🐿️
- “As covetous as a crow” 🦅
- “As clutching as a crab” 🦀
As greedy as a dragon
Meaning: Symbolizes an intense and almost mythical desire to guard and accumulate treasure without limit.
Example Sentences:
- The landlord was as greedy as a dragon, refusing to lower rent despite the tenant’s struggles.
- His greed was as fierce as a dragon protecting its hoard.
Other Ways to Say:
- “As covetous as a magpie” 🐦
- “As grasping as a giant” 🧙♂️
- “As insatiable as a fire” 🔥
As greedy as a hyena
Meaning: Describes someone who eagerly takes advantage of others, often scavenging what’s left, similar to a hyena’s behavior.
Example Sentences:
- The competitor was as greedy as a hyena, always ready to snatch any opportunity.
- Their greed was as ruthless as a hyena fighting for scraps.
Other Ways to Say:
- “As grasping as a vulture” 🦅
- “As hungry as a jackal” 🐺
- “As ravenous as a wolf” 🐺
As greedy as a bear
Meaning: Refers to someone with a large, overwhelming appetite for wealth or resources, similar to a bear’s big appetite.
Example Sentences:
- He was as greedy as a bear, devouring every chance to increase his fortune.
- Their demands were as greedy as a bear waking from hibernation.
Other Ways to Say:
- “As hungry as a lion” 🦁
- “As grasping as a crocodile” 🐊
- “As ravenous as a tiger” 🐅
As greedy as a vulture
Meaning: Describes someone who waits eagerly to take advantage of others’ misfortune, much like a vulture circling its prey.
Example Sentences:
- The investor was as greedy as a vulture, ready to swoop in when companies faltered.
- Their greed was as sharp as a vulture’s gaze, always seeking weakness to exploit.
Other Ways to Say:
- “As grasping as a hawk” 🦅
- “As cunning as a fox” 🦊
- “As ruthless as a wolf” 🐺
As greedy as a bee
Meaning: Refers to someone who gathers resources tirelessly and eagerly, similar to a bee collecting nectar.
Example Sentences:
- She was as greedy as a bee, gathering every bit of opportunity that came her way.
- His ambition was as busy and greedy as a bee buzzing from flower to flower.
Other Ways to Say:
- “As industrious as an ant” 🐜
- “As eager as a squirrel” 🐿️
- “As persistent as a woodpecker” 🐦
29. As sharp as a tack
Meaning: Extremely intelligent or quick-witted.
Example Sentences:
- Don’t underestimate her, she’s as sharp as a tack and can figure out any puzzle.
- He’s as sharp as a tack in the boardroom, always quick to solve any issue.
Other Ways to Say:
- As clever as a fox 🦊
- As bright as a diamond 💎
- As smart as an owl 🦉
As greedy as a cat
Meaning: Describes someone who wants more than their fair share, often in a sly or sneaky way, like a cat wanting extra food.
Example Sentences:
- The child was as greedy as a cat, always asking for just one more treat.
- Her desire for praise was as greedy as a cat’s for warm laps.
Other Ways to Say:
- “As sly as a fox” 🦊
- “As hungry as a tiger” 🐅
- “As grasping as a raccoon” 🦝
As greedy as a pig
Meaning: Refers to someone who indulges in excessive greed or gluttony, similar to the stereotypical image of a pig.
Example Sentences:
- He was as greedy as a pig, never satisfied no matter how much he took.
- Their spending habits were as greedy as a pig at a trough.
Other Ways to Say:
- “As gluttonous as a bear” 🐻
- “As ravenous as a wolf” 🐺
- “As insatiable as a fire” 🔥
As greedy as a jackal
Meaning: Describes someone who opportunistically takes what they want, often at others’ expense, like a jackal scavenging food.
Example Sentences:
- The competitor was as greedy as a jackal, snatching deals before anyone else could.
- Their appetite for power was as greedy as a jackal hunting at night.
Other Ways to Say:
- “As grasping as a hyena” 🐾
- “As cunning as a fox” 🦊
- “As eager as a vulture” 🦅
Practical Exercise: Fill in the Blanks – Similes for Greed
Fill in the blanks with the correct simile from the list below:
(as greedy as a wolf, as greedy as a vulture, as greedy as a bee, as greedy as a cat, as greedy as a pig, as greedy as a jackal, as hungry as a tiger, as grasping as a hyena)
- The CEO grabbed every business deal available, ________, never satisfied with just one.
- During the auction, he circled the room, waiting for a chance to bid — ________ ready to snatch any valuable item.
- She collected all the gifts at the party, ________, not wanting to miss a single treat.
- The little boy was ________ when it came to sweets, always wanting more candy than anyone else.
- The corrupt official was ________, taking bribes without any shame.
- In the wild, the scavenger was ________, always ready to take advantage of leftovers.
- His appetite for power was ________, fierce and unstoppable like a wild beast.
- The greedy landlord was ________, squeezing every penny from his tenants.
Answer Key:
- as greedy as a wolf
- as greedy as a vulture
- as greedy as a bee
- as greedy as a cat
- as greedy as a pig
- as greedy as a jackal
- as hungry as a tiger
- as grasping as a hyena
Conclusion
Similes for greed vividly capture the intense desire and relentless hunger that define this powerful human trait. By comparing greed to animals like wolves, vultures, and pigs, or even natural elements, these similes help us understand the nature of greed in a more relatable and imaginative way. Whether describing someone as as greedy as a wolf or as grasping as a hyena, these expressions bring depth and color to our language, making abstract emotions tangible.
Using these similes not only enriches our writing and speech but also provides insightful reflections on human behavior.
Next time you want to describe someone’s insatiable appetite for more, these similes offer the perfect vivid imagery to convey your message clearly and effectively.
