materialistic

adjective

Definition of materialisticnext
as in mercenary
having or marked by interest in material possessions as opposed to intellectual or spiritual things His essay criticises the materialistic culture of today's world.

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Example Sentences

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 materialistic The pursuit of happiness, both materialistic and spiritual, is a recurring theme in my feature films. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 19 Jan. 2026 Heather is accused of hiding behind her humor, Lisa of hiding behind materialistic things, and Angie of hiding behind her sharp tongue, for example. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2026 Some religious leaders put the blame on mobile devices that can lead young people to choose more materialistic pursuits. — Avedis Hadjian, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Jan. 2026 Far too many became trapped in a materialistic outlook where success was based on acquiring wealth. — Jane Goodall, Time, 12 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for materialistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for materialistic
  1. mercenary
  2. superficial
  3. greedy
Adjective
  • However, the calculation changes if Apple sends you a mercenary spyware notification.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Lee joins after inking a deal to star in Tygo, a Korean-language entry in the franchise centered on his former child soldier turned mercenary, which is in post-production.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of mercenary
Adjective
  • The privileges of Jover’s life appear entirely superficial, even a bit alien, when contrasted with her granddaughter’s narrative thread.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
  • So, when the next challenge arises, managers can move past superficial symptoms and identify the underlying organizational roadblocks.
    — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of superficial
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

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materialist
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Cite this Entry

“Materialistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/materialistic. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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