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acquisitive
[ uh-kwiz-i-tiv ]
adjective
- tending or seeking to acquire and own, often greedily; eager to get wealth, possessions, etc.:
our acquisitive impulses; acquisitive societies.
Synonyms: , ,
acquisitive
/ əˈɪɪɪ /
adjective
- inclined or eager to acquire things, esp material possessions
we currently live in an acquisitive society
Derived Forms
- ˈܾپ, adverb
- ˈܾپԱ, noun
Other 51Թ Forms
- ·ܾi·پ· adverb
- ·ܾi·پ·Ա noun
- ԴDza·ܾi·پ adjective
- non·ܾi·پ· adverb
- non·ܾi·پ·Ա noun
- a·ܾi·پ adjective
- pre·ܾi·پ· adverb
- pre·ܾi·پ·Ա noun
- ܲa·ܾi·پ adjective
- un·ܾi·پ· adverb
- un·ܾi·پ·Ա noun
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of acquisitive1
Example Sentences
It was a day in which an acquisitive foreign power had sent an uninvited delegation to the world's largest island with an uncomfortable message.
Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, National Police Chiefs' Council lead for acquisitive crime, says they are "committed" to reducing theft and pursuing offenders.
"We are doing all we can to reduce thefts and pursue offenders, especially those prolific and habitual offenders, who cause misery within the community," said Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, the NPCC’s lead for acquisitive crime.
By confronting the emptiness of consumerism, the Sex Pistols encourage listeners to get beyond object-oriented, acquisitive pursuits.
Big Oil replaces Big Tech at the top of Friday's corporate diary, with recently acquisitive Exxon Mobil and Chevron due to report.
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More About Acquisitive
What doesacquisitive mean?
Acquisitive most generally means tending or seeking to gain possession of wealth or material things, especially in a greedy way.
It’s perhaps most commonly used in a more specific way to describe companies that are known for acquiring (buying) other companies and properties—which are often referred to as acquisitions. (However, it’s used much less commonly than acquisition.) This sense of the word doesn’t necessarily imply greediness like the more general sense does, but it can imply that such companies tend to buy up competitors.
Example: The tech conglomerates are notoriously acquisitive, buying out any startup that has some technology they want.
Where doesacquisitive come from?
The first records of the word acquisitive come from around 1600. It ultimately comes from the Latin verb ī, which is the root of acquire and means “to add to one’s possessions.”
Due to the common use of acquisition to refer to a company bought by another company, acquisitive is most commonly used in this context. Acquisition can also be used in many general ways to refer to things acquired or the process or acquiring things, including intangible things like knowledge and skills. But acquisitive, when used in a general way, almost always refers to the tendency to try to acquire material goods or money. Criticism of consumerism often involves the discussion of the acquisitive nature of consumers who keep buying stuff.
Acquisitive should not be confused with the term inquisitive, which is used to describe a person who’s curious or asks a lot of questions.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to acquisitive?
- acquisitively (adverb)
- acquisitiveness (noun)
- nonacquisitive (adjective)
- nonacquisitively (adverb)
- acquisition (noun)
- acquire (verb)
What are some words that share a root or word element with acquisitive?
What are some words that often get used in discussing acquisitive?
What are some words acquisitive may be commonly confused with?
How isacquisitive used in real life?
Acquisitive is often used in a somewhat formal way. It is most commonly used in the context of mergers and acquisitions.
“EML isn't a very acquisitive kind of a company, it isn't our core business model. Having said that, we always keep our eye and ears open," said MD (via )
— moneycontrol (@moneycontrolcom)
one of the bigger trends in Canadian tech: the Caisse de depot funding domestic players who are both growing fast and acquisitive. Lightspeed, AlayaCare, Nuvei all immediately come to mind as egs
— SeanSilcoff (@SeanSilcoff)
"Using the summit as a measurement of success reflects the mortal injury done to climbing by our acquisitive society, which places great value on achievement itself and little on the process of achieving. I consider it a consumer mentality." – Kiss or Kill, Mark Twight
— Alastair Humphreys (@Al_Humphreys)
Try usingacquisitive!
Is acquisitive used correctly in the following sentence?
Children tend to be acquisitive and need to be taught how to share.
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