Basic Details
Word: Avarice
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A strong desire to have more money or possessions than you need; greed.
Synonyms: Greed, cupidity, acquisitiveness
Antonyms: Generosity, selflessness, philanthropy
Idioms and Phrases
- Greed is a bottomless pit: This means that no matter how much one gets, they will always want more. Example: "His belief that greed is a bottomless pit led him to alienate his friends."
- Avarice brings ruin: This phrase suggests that greed can lead to one's downfall. Example: "He learned the hard way that avarice brings ruin when he lost everything he had."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Avarice can lead people to make poor choices in pursuit of wealth.
Example 2: The story told how the king's avarice caused the suffering of his people.
Example 3: Her avarice was evident when she refused to share her toys with others.
Fun Fact
The word "avarice" originates from the Latin word "avaritia," which means "greed" or "voracity." Interestingly, it is often depicted as one of the seven deadly sins in various cultures throughout history.
Famous Quote
"Avarice is as blind as love." - Spanish Proverb
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "avarice" mean?
a) A strong desire for knowledge
b) A strong desire for money and possessions
c) A strong friendship
d) A strong dislike for something
Answer: b) A strong desire for money and possessions
2. Which of these is a synonym of "avarice"?
a) Generosity
b) Greed
c) Friendship
d) Charity
Answer: b) Greed
3. What is an antonym of "avarice"?
a) Selfishness
b) Avarice
c) Generosity
d) Envy
Answer: c) Generosity
4. Which sentence uses "avarice" correctly?
a) His avarice led him to share his toys with everyone.
b) Avarice can result in isolation from friends.
c) She was praised for her avarice when she donated money to the poor.
d) Avarice is a word that describes a kind of friendship.
Answer: b) Avarice can result in isolation from friends.
5. Which idiom relates to "avarice"?
a) Greed is a bottomless pit
b) All is fair in love and war
c) Birds of a feather flock together
d) The early bird catches the worm
Answer: a) Greed is a bottomless pit
