Greedy
''Greedy'' is an English adjective meaning having or showing an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth or power.
It may also refer to:
''For other uses, see [[Greedy (disambiguation)]].''
Linguistic Usage
Definition
Greedy is an adjective primarily describing a person or behavior characterized by an intense and selfish desire for something, particularly wealth, food, or power, exceeding what is necessary or reasonable.[1] This term conveys immoderate wanting, often extending to resources like money or possessions, where the pursuit prioritizes personal gain over fairness or others' needs.[2] For instance, it might describe "a greedy investor seeking excessive profits" or "greedy eyes on a limited supply of food," highlighting voracious or avaricious tendencies.[3]
Grammatically, "greedy" functions as an adjective with comparative form "greedier" and superlative "greediest," applicable to both people and actions; it can also appear in compounds like "greediness" as a noun derivative.[4] The word applies to material desires, such as hoarding wealth, as well as immaterial ones, like craving attention or success, broadening its usage beyond physical appetites.[5] It derives from the noun "greed," which encapsulates the underlying vice of excessive desire.[6]
Culturally, "greedy" carries a strongly negative connotation, often linked to moral failings such as selfishness and excess in ethical, literary, and social contexts.[1] This disapproving tone underscores themes of imbalance and exploitation, portraying greed as detrimental to communal harmony or personal virtue.[4]
Etymology and Historical Development
The word "greedy" derives from Old English grǣdig, meaning "hungry," "voracious," or "eager," which entered the language before the 12th century.[1] This form stems from Proto-Germanic \grēdagaz, an adjective denoting hunger or eagerness to consume, related to \grēdaz ("hunger" or "desire").[7] The root traces further to the Proto-Indo-European \gher-, signifying "to like," "want," or "crave," reflecting an ancient association with insatiable appetite.[8]
Cognates appear across Germanic languages, such as Old Saxon gradag ("greedy"), Old Norse graðr ("greed" or "hunger"), and Gothic gredags ("greedy"), all sharing the Proto-Germanic base.[7] In modern German, the equivalent is gierig, meaning "greedy" or "covetous," particularly for material gain.[9] During the Middle English period (circa 1100–1500), the term shifted from literal physical hunger to figurative excess, often denoting avarice or moral failing, as seen in 14th-century literature like Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, where characters embody greedy corruption within religious and social institutions.[10] This evolution aligned with Christian theology, linking greed to avarice—one of the seven deadly sins—in texts influenced by biblical warnings against covetousness, such as those equating it to idolatry (e.g., Colossians 3:5).[11]
By the 16th and 17th centuries, amid mercantilist economic expansion, "greedy" extended to critiques of commercial excess, transforming from a purely moral vice into a descriptor of societal behaviors in emerging capitalist systems, where unchecked desire for wealth was increasingly tolerated or even valorized.[12] In the 19th century, the word permeated Victorian literature, portraying industrial-era avarice; Charles Dickens, for instance, depicted greedy figures like Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (1843) to satirize profit-driven exploitation and social indifference.[13] Today, "greedy" persists in slang, including video gaming contexts where it labels players who hoard resources excessively, often leading to strategic penalties.[14]
Computing and Mathematics
Greedy Algorithm
In computer science and mathematics, a greedy algorithm is a strategy for solving optimization problems by repeatedly selecting the locally optimal choice at each step, with the intention of achieving a global optimum, without revisiting or revising prior decisions.[15] This approach relies on irrevocable commitments, forgoing backtracking to explore alternative paths.[16] Central to its validity are two key properties: the greedy choice property, which posits that a locally optimal selection can be part of a globally optimal solution, and optimal substructure, where the problem's optimal solution incorporates optimal solutions to its subproblems.[17] These properties ensure that, for applicable problems, the cumulative local optima yield the desired result.
Greedy algorithms trace their origins to the mid-20th century, emerging within operations research during the 1940s and 1950s as efficient heuristics for combinatorial optimization.[18] Their formalization gained prominence through graph theory applications, notably in constructing minimum spanning trees. Joseph Kruskal introduced a seminal greedy method in 1956 for finding the shortest spanning subtree in a weighted graph, sorting edges by weight and adding the smallest non-cycle-forming edge iteratively.[19] Independently, Robert C. Prim described a similar approach in 1957, starting from an arbitrary vertex and greedily expanding the tree by the minimum-weight edge connecting to an unvisited vertex. These works established greedy techniques as foundational in algorithm design.
A generic greedy algorithm follows a straightforward structure, adaptable to specific criteria:
Initialize an empty solution set S
While the problem remains unsolved:
Among available options, select the one that optimizes the local criterion (e.g., minimum cost or maximum value)
Add the selected option to S
Update the remaining problem instance (e.g., remove the chosen option and adjust constraints)
Return S
Initialize an empty solution set S
While the problem remains unsolved:
Among available options, select the one that optimizes the local criterion (e.g., minimum cost or maximum value)
Add the selected option to S
Update the remaining problem instance (e.g., remove the chosen option and adjust constraints)
Return S
This pseudocode exemplifies the paradigm's simplicity, as seen in minimum spanning tree algorithms where the criterion is edge weight.[15]
Greedy algorithms offer advantages in simplicity and computational efficiency, often achieving polynomial time complexity such as O(E \log V) for minimum spanning trees using union-find data structures, making them suitable for large-scale problems. However, they do not guarantee optimality in all cases; for instance, a greedy strategy by value-to-weight ratio fails on the 0/1 knapsack problem, where indivisible items prevent fractional selection, potentially yielding suboptimal solutions (e.g., selecting high-density items that leave insufficient capacity for a more valuable combination).[20] Thus, their applicability requires verification of the greedy choice and optimal substructure properties.
Applications and Examples
Greedy algorithms find widespread application in networking, where Dijkstra's algorithm computes the shortest paths in weighted graphs, enabling efficient routing decisions in communication networks by iteratively selecting the node with the minimum distance from the source.[21] In data compression, Huffman coding constructs optimal prefix codes for lossless encoding by greedily building a binary tree based on symbol frequencies, minimizing the average code length for source symbols.[22] For scheduling tasks, the activity selection problem uses a greedy strategy to maximize the number of non-overlapping activities by sorting them by finish time and selecting the earliest-finishing compatible activity, ensuring an optimal schedule for a single resource.[23]
Classic examples illustrate the effectiveness of greedy approaches in optimization. The coin change problem, when using canonical coin systems (where denominations allow the greedy choice of largest coins first to yield the minimum number), solves change-making optimally without backtracking.[24] Similarly, the fractional knapsack problem achieves optimality by greedily selecting items in decreasing order of value-to-weight ratio, allowing partial inclusion to fill the capacity exactly and maximize total value.[25]
Despite these successes, greedy algorithms have limitations in problems lacking the greedy choice property. In the 0/1 knapsack problem, where items cannot be fractionated, the greedy approach by value density fails to guarantee optimality, often requiring dynamic programming to explore combinations that yield higher total value within the weight constraint.[26] Another counterexample is the Egyptian fraction representation, where the greedy method of repeatedly subtracting the largest possible unit fraction may produce expansions with more terms than necessary, as seen in fractions like 4/17 requiring four terms greedily but only three optimally.[27]
In modern contexts, greedy methods continue to influence practical systems. Machine learning employs greedy forward selection for feature selection, iteratively adding the feature that most improves model performance on a validation set, balancing dimensionality reduction with predictive accuracy.[28] Compiler design leverages greedy register allocation, such as linear scan, which assigns registers to live variables in a single pass by prioritizing those with the shortest remaining live intervals, enabling fast code generation with minimal spills.[29]
Performance analysis highlights efficiency in graph problems; for instance, Kruskal's algorithm for minimum spanning trees achieves O(E log V) time complexity using union-find for cycle detection, sorting edges by weight and adding non-cycle-forming ones greedily.[30]
Music
Albums
"Greedy" is the third and final studio album by the New Zealand alternative rock band Headless Chickens, released on December 1, 1997, by Flying Nun Records. Produced by Malcolm Wellsford, the album features 13 tracks blending experimental industrial rock, post-punk, and electronic elements, with a runtime of approximately 56 minutes. Notable tracks include "George," which became a number-one single in New Zealand, "Dark Angel," and "Stalk of a Cherry," showcasing the band's signature mix of aggressive sampling, looping, and dark lyrical themes. The album's experimental sound was praised for its innovation and intensity in reviews, though some critics noted inconsistencies in pacing and cohesion. It achieved commercial success in Australasia, particularly through the hit single's promotion, and contributed to the band's influence on the Kiwi independent music scene by pushing boundaries in electronic and industrial genres during the 1990s.[31][32][33][34][35]
In the post-2023 period, several independent albums titled "Greedy" emerged across genres. Jenny Rubicon, a New York City-based duo, released their debut album "Greedy" on January 19, 2024, via Bandcamp, comprising 9 tracks of invigorating alternative rock and power-pop with nostalgic influences and overlapping vocals. The album, produced by Travis Harrison, highlights tracks like "Dinner Party" and "Monte Carlo," earning praise for its steady grooves and timeless energy in indie circles. South African hip-hop artist Flow Jones Jr. followed with "GREEDY," a 14-track album released on September 5, 2025, featuring collaborations with artists such as K.Keed, 25K, and Jayhood, and focusing on trap-influenced beats and introspective lyrics. These releases represent minor but genre-specific contributions, with no significant overlap to the Headless Chickens' earlier work.[36][37][38]
Songs
Several songs titled "Greedy" have gained prominence in the music industry, particularly within pop and R&B genres, exploring themes of desire, self-assurance, and relational dynamics.
"Greedy" by Ariana Grande, released on May 20, 2016, as the seventh track on her third studio album Dangerous Woman through Republic Records, is an R&B/pop song infused with disco elements.[39] Written by Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Alexander Kronlund, and Ilya Salmanzadeh, and produced by Martin and Ilya, the track delves into themes of unapologetic desire and female empowerment through its bold, upbeat production and Grande's vocal delivery.[39] It achieved moderate commercial success as an album track. By November 2025, the song had surpassed 330 million streams on Spotify, reflecting its enduring appeal among fans.[40]
More recently, "greedy" by Tate McRae, a Canadian singer-songwriter, was released on September 15, 2023, as the lead single from her second studio album Think Later via RCA Records, marking a pivotal moment in her rise to global stardom.[41] This pop/dance track, characterized by its infectious synth-driven beat and confident lyricism, was co-written by McRae, Amy Allen, and Jasper Harris, with production handled by Ryan Tedder, Harris, and Grant Boutin during an intensive week-long session that emphasized emotional vulnerability and rhythmic energy.[42] The chorus captures impatience in romantic pursuits, with lines like: "I would want myself / Baby, please believe me / I'll put you through hell / Just to know me, yeah, yeah / So sure of yourself / Baby, don't get greedy / That shit won't end well / No, it won't end well," highlighting a playful yet firm boundary against overeager advances.[43]
McRae's "greedy" achieved massive chart dominance, topping the Billboard Global 200, reaching No. 3 on the Hot 100—her highest peak to date—and securing No. 1 on the Pop Airplay chart, driven by viral TikTok traction and radio play.[44] By October 2025, it was certified 5x multi-platinum by the RIAA in the United States, signifying over 5 million units sold or streamed.[45] The official music video, directed by Aerin Moreno and featuring McRae in dynamic choreography, exceeded 500 million views on YouTube by late 2025.[46] On Spotify, it amassed over 2 billion streams, underscoring its streaming-era impact.[47] The song earned critical acclaim for its production and McRae's performance, winning Single of the Year at the 2024 Juno Awards and receiving nominations for Top Radio Song at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards and Song of the Year at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards.[48][49]
No major new original songs or notable covers titled "Greedy" emerged between 2024 and 2025, though the track inspired various mashups and live reinterpretations in live performances.
Films
Greedy is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn and written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel.[50] The story revolves around the McTeague family, a collection of self-serving relatives who gather around their wealthy, wheelchair-bound uncle, Joe McTeague (Kirk Douglas), in hopes of securing his vast fortune from his scrap metal business.[50] The arrival of a distant nephew, Daniel McTeague (Michael J. Fox), a former professional baseball player recently retired due to injury, along with his new wife Robin (Nancy Travis), upends the family's scheming dynamics when Uncle Joe begins to favor Daniel, prompting threats to revise his will.[51] Supporting roles feature Olivia d'Abo as Molly Richardson, Phil Hartman as attorney Frank, Ed Begley Jr. as Carl McTeague, Jere Burns as Glen McTeague, and Colleen Camp as Patti McTeague, highlighting the ensemble's portrayal of familial greed and betrayal.[52]
The narrative explores themes of avarice and moral hypocrisy through comedic exaggeration, as Uncle Joe toys with his relatives to reveal their true natures, ultimately using the inheritance dispute to teach a lesson on human selfishness that echoes the word "greedy" itself.[53] With a runtime of 113 minutes and a PG-13 rating for language and suggestive content, the film blends slapstick elements with dialogue-driven family confrontations.[51][50]
Upon release, Greedy garnered mixed reviews from critics, earning a 33% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 18 reviews, with an average score of 5.1/10.[51] Praise focused on the sharp humor, brisk direction by Lynn, and standout performances from the ensemble, particularly Douglas's commanding presence as the cunning patriarch and Hartman's dry wit, while detractors noted its formulaic storyline, overcrowded cast, and failure to fully capitalize on its satirical potential.[53][54] Roger Ebert awarded it 2 out of 4 stars, commending the setup but critiquing the execution as overly reliant on predictable tropes.[53]
Financially, the film opened to $4.8 million in its first weekend and ultimately grossed $13.1 million domestically against a reported budget of $16 million, underperforming at the box office amid competition from other comedies that year.[55] No major remakes or international adaptations have emerged as of 2025, though the film has seen continued availability through home video releases and various streaming platforms.[56]
In television, "Anything More Would Be Greedy" is a six-part British comedy-drama miniseries created by Malcolm Bradbury, which aired in 1989 on BBC Two and follows the post-graduation lives of Cambridge students over a decade.[57] The 2019 Indian web series "The Greedy Closet," hosted by Monica Dogra, explores themes of desire and excess through a fashion and lifestyle lens, featuring guest appearances by celebrities such as Sanaya Irani, across its single season on streaming platforms.[58] Children's programming includes the 1975 episode "Mr. Greedy" from the animated "Mr. Men" series, where the titular character overindulges in food, learning a lesson about moderation, originally broadcast on BBC One.[59]
Literature features several works titled "Greedy" that delve into themes of excess and consequence. Rhianna Burwell's 2023 novella "Greedy: A Spicy Novella" centers on Olivia, who propositions her ex-boyfriend's best friend for revenge after infidelity, blending romance and erotic elements in a self-contained narrative.[60] Karen Katchur's 2023 suspense novel "The Greedy Three" portrays three women entangled in a web of financial desperation and moral compromise in a small-town setting, highlighting the destructive pull of avarice. For younger readers, Jalen Hines' "The Greedy King" (2023) is a moral tale about a selfish monarch who learns the value of sharing after facing isolation, aimed at teaching empathy through simple prose and illustrations.[61]
Video games titled "Greedy" often incorporate resource-gathering mechanics with risk elements. "Greedy Guns," a 2017 run-and-gun shooter developed by Tio Atum and available on Steam, features dual protagonists navigating procedurally generated levels to collect treasures while battling enemies, drawing inspiration from classics like Metal Slug.[62] The mobile app "Let's Get Greedy" (2020 onward) on Google Play offers a single-player dice-rolling push-your-luck game where players decide to bank points or reroll for higher rewards, emphasizing strategic greed in short sessions on Android devices.[63]
In animation and comics, short-form works titled "Greedy" frequently use anthropomorphic characters to satirize gluttony. The 1936 Fleischer Studios Color Classic short "Greedy Humpty Dumpty" depicts the egg character devouring an entire banquet, leading to a chaotic downfall in a surreal, cautionary style.[64] "Greedy Gabby Gator" (1963), a Woody Woodpecker cartoon directed by Sid Marcus, follows the alligator's failed schemes to capture his prey through deceptive traps, underscoring ironic failure from overambition.[65] The 1957 Looney Tunes short "Greedy for Tweety," directed by Friz Freleng, pits Sylvester the Cat against obstacles in his obsessive pursuit of the bird, amplifying comedic greed through slapstick escalation.
Emerging podcasts with "Greedy" in the title address personal and societal excess. "Greedy Pig Podcast," hosted by George Madden and Zachary Krivda since 2024, explores food culture, indulgence, and lifestyle choices through interviews and storytelling, available on major platforms like Spotify.[66] Episodes from broader series, such as the 2020 "Victoria's World" installment "The Greedy Queen: Eating with Queen Victoria," examine historical figures' appetites, drawing from Annie Gray's research on royal dining habits.[67]
People
Musicians and Entertainers
Andrew McArthur Smith, professionally known as Greedy Smith, was an Australian musician born on January 16, 1956, in Sydney.[68] He earned his stage name "Greedy" in 1977 due to his voracious appetite, particularly after consuming a large quantity of fried chicken during an early performance.[69] Smith was a founding member of the pop rock band Mental As Anything, formed in 1976 at the University of Sydney, where he contributed as keyboardist, lead vocalist, songwriter, and harmonica player.[70] The band emerged from Sydney's vibrant pub rock scene of the late 1970s, known for its energetic live performances in local venues that helped launch several Australian acts.[70]
Smith co-wrote and performed on several of Mental As Anything's biggest hits, including "The Nips Are Getting Bigger" in 1979 and "Live It Up" in 1985, the latter reaching number two on the Australian charts.[68] His distinctive harmonica work and charismatic stage presence, often featuring a cravat and suit jacket, became hallmarks of the band's upbeat, humorous style.[70] In 2009, Mental As Anything was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, recognizing their enduring impact on Australian music.[71] Beyond the band, Smith pursued solo endeavors, releasing the album Love Harmonica in 1996, which highlighted his harmonica expertise through self-recorded tracks.[72] He followed with Greedy's People in 1997, further showcasing his songwriting in a more intimate format.[73]
Smith's career extended into television and visual arts, where he appeared as a personality and exhibited paintings influenced by his musical roots.[72] He passed away on December 2, 2019, from a heart attack at age 63, leaving a legacy as a key figure in Australia's pop rock history.[68]
Richard Ramos, known professionally as Rich Greedy, is an American rapper and songwriter from San Antonio, Texas, who began his career in 2016.[74] Active in the hip-hop and trap genres as an independent artist, he has released singles such as "100K Freestyle" (2021, over 2 million YouTube views), "Ese Talk" (featuring Peso Peso), and "Militant" (2024).[75][76] As of 2025, Rich Greedy has amassed over 55,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and continues to release music, including tracks like "Johnny Cage," emphasizing themes of ambition and regional pride in Texas hip-hop.[77]
Andraez Montrell "Greedy" Williams, born December 3, 1997, in Shreveport, Louisiana, is a professional American football cornerback who has played in the National Football League (NFL).[78] His nickname "Greedy" was given by his aunt when he was six months old, due to his voracious appetite for baby bottles.[79] Williams attended Louisiana State University (LSU), where he excelled as a cornerback for the Tigers, earning All-Southeastern Conference honors in 2018 after recording 21 tackles, four pass breakups, and two interceptions in his junior season.[80] Selected by the Cleveland Browns in the second round (46th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft, he signed a four-year rookie contract worth $6.43 million, including a $2.01 million signing bonus.
Williams debuted in the NFL during the 2019 season, starting 10 of 14 games for the Browns and tallying 35 combined tackles, one interception, and seven pass deflections despite missing time due to a shoulder injury.[81] Over three seasons with Cleveland from 2019 to 2021, he appeared in 37 games with 17 starts, accumulating 99 combined tackles (78 solo), two interceptions, and 19 pass deflections.[81] Released by the Browns in August 2022, Williams spent time on practice squads with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders before signing a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in May 2024. In 2025, he signed with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL) in January, appearing in one game before being released in April 2025. As of November 2025, Williams is a free agent. Known for his length (6'1" with 32¾-inch arms) and speed (4.47-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine), Williams has been praised for his ball skills and coverage instincts in zone schemes.
Greedy Vance Jr., born October 8, 2001, in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a professional NFL cornerback for the Las Vegas Raiders.[82] A four-star high school recruit from Edna Karr High School, Vance played college football across multiple programs, beginning at the University of Louisville (2019–2021), where he recorded 50 tackles and two interceptions in 28 games.[83] He transferred to Florida State University for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, starting nine games in 2023 and adding 36 tackles, one interception, and five pass breakups to help the Seminoles reach the ACC Championship game.[84] In 2024, Vance played his final college season at the University of Southern California (USC), contributing 14 tackles in 12 games as part of a secondary that supported USC's 6-6 record.[85]
Across his five-year collegiate career, Vance totaled 100 tackles (79 solo), five interceptions, 14 pass deflections, and one fumble recovery in 55 games with 20 starts.[86] Undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, he signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in May 2024, receiving a $10,000 signing bonus. In his rookie 2024 season, Vance appeared in one game on special teams. Entering his second season in 2025, he has continued in depth and special teams roles, recording 1 solo tackle through the Raiders' first nine games (team record 2-7 as of November 2025). At 5'10" and 177 pounds, Vance is noted for his quickness and ball-hawking ability, particularly in press coverage.[82]
Other athletes bearing the name or nickname "Greedy" include Malichi "Greedy" Lowery, a former defensive back for Duquesne University who completed his senior season in 2024, recording 22 tackles and one interception in nine games as part of his collegiate career.[87] As of November 2025, no professional contract has been reported for Lowery. Joshua "Greedy" Williams, a guard for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks men's basketball team, averaged 12.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game during the 2023–2024 season at Chipola College, where he earned NJCAA Second-Team All-American honors.[88] Transferring to UNCW for the 2024-25 season, he appeared in 35 games (22 starts), averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. As of November 2025, Williams is a junior contributing in the ongoing 2025-26 season.[89] These individuals represent lesser-known but active figures in collegiate sports.