MERCENARY Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

mercenary

adjective

Definition of mercenary

as in greedy

having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions they were a mercenary couple, who defined themselves not by what they were but by what they owned

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mercenary Meanwhile, a mistaken identity twist has a mercenary nicknamed Not Metal Head Dave (LaKeith Stanfield) and a team of Danish scientists and security contractors hot on their heels. — Katie Walsh, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 When the mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin rebelled against Putin, in 2023, the Wall Street Journal reported that then security council chief Nikolai Patrushev, age 75, orchestrated the plane crash that killed the rebel leader. — Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026 Now, with one-year mercenary players plus rapid roster turnover, the first game deters even the most addicted sports gambler. — Mac Engel july 28, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026 But after Richard’s death, his mercenary captain and right-hand man, the infamous Mercadier, had Basile flayed alive and hanged. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mercenary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mercenary

Adjective

Through its own websites, the mysterious group has been portraying itself as vigilantes out to rein in greedy video game developers.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026
One of Nader’s grandsons, Shah Rukh, was tortured by a greedy court eunuch named Agha Muhammad to force him to reveal the location of the invaluable diamond.

— Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of greedy

Adjective

Played by a Colman Domingo who is done up to look the most wax figurine of them all in a shellacking of makeup, prosthetics, and colored contacts, Joe is always either giving an avaricious open-mouthed leer or a cold-eyed glare.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
There’s a quasi-heist theme to The Christophers, which revolves around an acclaimed artist (McKellen), who has long since stopped making new work, and his avaricious children (Gunning and Corden) who try to enlist Coel to complete some of their dad’s unfinished paintings.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2026

Definition of avaricious

Adjective

Netflix has worked assiduously to burnish its reputation as a home for advertisers seeking to align themselves with its popular programs and eager to avoid the traditional model of deploying typical 30-second commercials.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Thanks to hundreds of millions of dollars invested into their respective football teams by eager boosters, both SMU and Texas Tech have jumped ahead of everyone else in this state for the best view of UT and A&M’s backsides.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of eager

Adjective

But for an acquisitive current occupant of the White House, the oldest continuously active musical organization hasn’t seemed enough.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
All this acquisitive activity has turned the majority of physicians into employees rather than independent operators.

— Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

Definition of acquisitive

Browse Nearby Words

mercenariness

mercenary

merchandise

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“Mercenary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mercenary. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of mercenary

adjective

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