Which term specifically denotes an intense desire for wealth or material gain?

• A. Greed
• B. Avarice
• C. Envy
• D. Theft

Answer: (B)

Avarice is the term that denotes an inordinate, insatiable desire for wealth or material gain. In theological and ethical thought, avarice describes an excessive attachment to riches as an end in itself, often driving hoarding or exploitation to accumulate more wealth. It sharpens the focus specifically on wealth, distinguishing it from broader cravings. Greed is a related idea, but avarice names the more precise obsession with money itself. Envy involves coveting others’ possessions, not the pursuit of wealth as such, and theft is the act of taking property away. So the term that most precisely captures that intense desire for wealth is avarice.