Greed is a powerful feeling that can consume and drive people beyond reason. Using similes for greed helps express this intense desire with clarity and empathy, enabling readers to understand the complexity of this emotion in thoughtful ways.
Here are 32 similes for greed to help you describe it vividly and meaningfully.
1. Like a wolf with a bone
Meaning: Relentlessly holding onto something
In a sentence: He clung to his wealth like a wolf with a bone, refusing to let go.
Tone: Fierce, determined
Other ways to say: Like a dog with a prize, like a beast with prey
2. Like a vacuum cleaner
Meaning: Sucking up everything greedily
In a sentence: She absorbed resources like a vacuum cleaner, never satisfied.
Tone: Insatiable, consuming
Other ways to say: Like a sponge, like an endless drain
3. Like a black hole
Meaning: Constantly pulling in everything around it
In a sentence: His greed was like a black hole, swallowing everything in sight.
Tone: Dark, overwhelming
Other ways to say: Like a force of nature, like a bottomless pit
4. Like a child grabbing candy
Meaning: Eager and impatient to get more
In a sentence: He grabbed opportunities like a child grabbing candy on Halloween.
Tone: Impulsive, eager
Other ways to say: Like a kid in a candy store, like a puppy chasing treats
5. Like a shark smelling blood
Meaning: Instinctively hunting for gain
In a sentence: Her ambition was like a shark smelling blood—sharp and relentless.
Tone: Predatory, intense
Other ways to say: Like a predator on the hunt, like a hunter tracking prey
6. Like a magpie collecting shiny things
Meaning: Attracted to valuable or flashy items
In a sentence: He gathered assets like a magpie collecting shiny things.
Tone: Materialistic, acquisitive
Other ways to say: Like a collector, like a hoarder
7. Like a bee hoarding honey
Meaning: Storing and accumulating for self
In a sentence: She saved profits like a bee hoarding honey for winter.
Tone: Careful, possessive
Other ways to say: Like a squirrel storing nuts, like a rat hoarding food
8. Like a fire that never dies
Meaning: An unending burning desire
In a sentence: His greed was like a fire that never dies, always craving more.
Tone: Intense, consuming
Other ways to say: Like an endless flame, like a wildfire
9. Like a spider weaving a web
Meaning: Crafting plans to catch and keep things
In a sentence: She spun deals like a spider weaving a web—careful and trapping.
Tone: Calculated, cunning
Other ways to say: Like a trap builder, like a strategist
10. Like a crocodile snapping at prey
Meaning: Sudden and fierce grab for resources
In a sentence: He snapped at opportunities like a crocodile snapping at prey.
Tone: Aggressive, fierce
Other ways to say: Like a predator striking, like a beast attacking
11. Like a vacuum gobbling crumbs
Meaning: Consuming even the smallest amounts
In a sentence: She gathered profits like a vacuum gobbling crumbs from the floor.
Tone: Insatiable, eager
Other ways to say: Like a scavenger, like a hoarder
12. Like a kid refusing to share toys
Meaning: Selfish and unwilling to give up anything
In a sentence: His greed was like a kid refusing to share toys with siblings.
Tone: Selfish, possessive
Other ways to say: Like a miser, like a hoarder
13. Like a snake coiling tighter
Meaning: Holding on with increasing strength
In a sentence: She clung to power like a snake coiling tighter around its prey.
Tone: Dangerous, tight grip
Other ways to say: Like a constrictor, like a vice grip
14. Like an ant carrying a leaf twice its size
Meaning: Overloading oneself with possessions
In a sentence: He hoarded wealth like an ant carrying a leaf twice its size.
Tone: Industrious but excessive
Other ways to say: Like a pack rat, like a busy collector
15. Like a squirrel burying nuts
Meaning: Saving for oneself, often excessively
In a sentence: Her savings piled up like a squirrel burying nuts for winter.
Tone: Cautious, possessive
Other ways to say: Like a hoarder, like a storer
16. Like a goldfish in a small bowl
Meaning: Craving more space or possessions in a limited environment
In a sentence: He wanted more freedom like a goldfish in a small bowl.
Tone: Confined, desperate
Other ways to say: Like a trapped creature, like a caged animal
17. Like a pirate guarding treasure
Meaning: Fiercely protective of possessions
In a sentence: She guarded her wealth like a pirate guarding treasure.
Tone: Protective, fierce
Other ways to say: Like a hoarder, like a keeper
18. Like a crow collecting shiny coins
Meaning: Drawn to valuable items and hoards them
In a sentence: His greed was like a crow collecting shiny coins in the sun.
Tone: Materialistic, acquisitive
Other ways to say: Like a magpie, like a collector
19. Like a furnace hungry for coal
Meaning: Always consuming more to keep burning
In a sentence: His desires were like a furnace hungry for coal—never satisfied.
Tone: Insatiable, consuming
Other ways to say: Like an engine needing fuel, like a fire
20. Like a clam snapping shut
Meaning: Closing off and protecting what is theirs
In a sentence: She shut herself off like a clam snapping shut when it felt threatened.
Tone: Defensive, possessive
Other ways to say: Like a turtle withdrawing, like a hermit crab hiding
21. Like a merchant counting coins
Meaning: Focused on accumulating wealth carefully
In a sentence: He was meticulous like a merchant counting coins after a sale.
Tone: Careful, calculating
Other ways to say: Like a trader, like a miser
22. Like a dog guarding a bone
Meaning: Protective and possessive over something valued
In a sentence: His greed was like a dog guarding a bone—fierce and unyielding.
Tone: Protective, stubborn
Other ways to say: Like a guard dog, like a watchdog
23. Like a miner digging for gold
Meaning: Constantly searching for more riches
In a sentence: She dug for success like a miner digging for gold in the earth.
Tone: Determined, persistent
Other ways to say: Like a prospector, like a treasure hunter
24. Like a spider waiting for prey
Meaning: Patiently waiting to seize opportunity
In a sentence: He waited like a spider waiting for prey to get caught in his web.
Tone: Patient, cunning
Other ways to say: Like a trapper, like a hunter
25. Like a child sneaking cookies
Meaning: Taking what’s wanted sneakily
In a sentence: His greed showed like a child sneaking cookies from the jar.
Tone: Sneaky, guilty
Other ways to say: Like a thief, like a sneak
26. Like a plant reaching for sunlight
Meaning: Constantly striving to grow and gain more
In a sentence: Her ambition was like a plant reaching for sunlight—always hungry.
Tone: Aspirational, eager
Other ways to say: Like a climber, like a seeker
27. Like a vacuum bag filling up
Meaning: Absorbing more until full
In a sentence: His greed was like a vacuum bag filling up with dust.
Tone: Insatiable, accumulating
Other ways to say: Like a sponge soaking, like a cup filling
28. Like a kid filling a bucket with sand
Meaning: Collecting as much as possible
In a sentence: She gathered resources like a kid filling a bucket with sand on the beach.
Tone: Playful, eager
Other ways to say: Like a collector, like a gatherer
29. Like a hunter stalking prey
Meaning: Seeking relentlessly for gain
In a sentence: His eyes shone like a hunter stalking prey, focused on his goal.
Tone: Determined, predatory
Other ways to say: Like a stalker, like a pursuer
30. Like a pig at a trough
Meaning: Eating or taking greedily and without restraint
In a sentence: They consumed the resources like pigs at a trough, with no end in sight.
Tone: Gluttonous, unrestrained
Other ways to say: Like a glutton, like a hog
31. Like a magnet attracting metal
Meaning: Pulling in more possessions irresistibly
In a sentence: His greed was like a magnet attracting metal—unstoppable.
Tone: Powerful, natural
Other ways to say: Like a force of attraction, like gravity
32. Like a flame licking fuel
Meaning: Constantly consuming more to keep burning
In a sentence: Her greed was like a flame licking fuel, never satisfied.
Tone: Intense, consuming
Other ways to say: Like fire eating wood, like a blaze
Conclusion
These 32 similes for greed help express the complex, often overwhelming nature of desire and possession. Using these vivid comparisons, you can communicate greed’s intensity with empathy and insight, enriching your writing or conversations with warmth and precision.
