What's the difference between ambitious and greedy?

Ambitious


Definition:

  • (a.) Possessing, or controlled by, ambition; greatly or inordinately desirous of power, honor, office, superiority, or distinction.
  • (a.) Strongly desirous; -- followed by of or the infinitive; as, ambitious to be or to do something.
  • (a.) Springing from, characterized by, or indicating, ambition; showy; aspiring; as, an ambitious style.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) While there has been almost no political reform during their terms of office, there have been several ambitious steps forward in terms of environmental policy: anti-desertification campaigns; tree planting; an environmental transparency law; adoption of carbon targets; eco-services compensation; eco accounting; caps on water; lower economic growth targets; the 12th Five-Year Plan; debate and increased monitoring of PM2.5 [fine particulate matter] and huge investments in eco-cities, "clean car" manufacturing, public transport, energy-saving devices and renewable technology.
  • (2) Her success has not been universally welcomed - anonymous colleagues are occasionally quoted in the media portraying her as "ambitious" and "bossy".
  • (3) The agreement, hailed as a "landmark" deal and a breakthrough by politicians and the green lobby alike, came before a crucial EU summit opening in Brussels tomorrow at which 27 prime ministers and presidents are supposed to finalise an ambitious package to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020.
  • (4) The minister for health, Mamy Lalatiana Andriamanarivo, says he is determined to push ahead with ambitious plans for universal free healthcare.
  • (5) Britain's Climate Change Act 2008, the most ambitious legislation of its kind in the world, calls for reductions of about 3% each year to 2050.
  • (6) When she filmed Snowden, Glenn Greenwald and myself in Hong Kong, it never occurred to me she had something as ambitious as CitizenFour in mind.
  • (7) At the other end the first meaningful touch from Castillo sees him attempt an ambitious chip to finish a rare US break.
  • (8) The Liberal surge in February 1974 and the rise of the SDP in the early 1980s showed that protest politics was translating into something more ambitious.
  • (9) In 1972, he launched a more ambitious plan by buying Hintlesham Hall, a decrepit grade-11 listed building in Suffolk, converting it into a home and three restaurants and taking over the Hintlesham festival held there.
  • (10) Like many ambitious young writers, he sought both popular success and literary acclaim.
  • (11) Meanwhile he is preparing a new double piano concerto by Kevin Volans with the Labèque sisters for a concert at the Edinburgh festival next week, and he tells me with a glint in his eye about ideas for the next two seasons: concert performances of Don Giovanni this October, more Brahms symphonies, and more Berlioz – an ambitious plan to realise the gigantic drama of Roméo and Juliette on a chamber-orchestral scale, following up his rapturously received performances of L'Enfance du Christ in February.
  • (12) "I am looking forward to … producing ambitious, daring and engaging content both in the UK and internationally, as well as accessing their extensive library of film content."
  • (13) Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ambitious … Alice Fraser.
  • (14) His pupils are ambitious and successful, but many come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  • (15) Brian Otis, Verily’s chief technology officer, said: “This is an ambitious collaboration allowing GSK and Verily to combine forces and have a huge impact on an emerging field.
  • (16) Banking group HBOS was not driven to point of bankruptcy by the global financial meltdown, but by its own strategy of high-risk lending, over-ambitious growth targets and poor controls, according to a hard-hitting report by the parliamentary commission on banking standards.
  • (17) "Our ownership model means that we can take a long-term view and we are as driven, determined and ambitious as ever to modernise our business.
  • (18) I'm not in the least ambitious, never have been, and I don't tread on people.
  • (19) Scott's ambitious design for the hotel and station clearly plundered the architectural treasuries of medieval Europe.
  • (20) She said: "The targets do not look that ambitious, while the failure of the banks to meet their previous targets without any obvious repercussions means they have little incentive to meet these new ones."

Greedy


Definition:

  • (superl.) Having a keen appetite for food or drink; ravenous; voracious; very hungry; -- followed by of; as, a lion that is greedy of his prey.
  • (superl.) Having a keen desire for anything; vehemently desirous; eager to obtain; avaricious; as, greedy of gain.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Most rentiers are not as easily identified as the greedy banker or manager.
  • (2) It's the greedy internet service providers, say MPs from an all-party committee, who want ISPs to apply automatic filters to prevent access to adult material.
  • (3) "The property owner has backtracked and displayed a greediness, realising that there is much to be gained and in so doing has begun to exploit the situation," he said.
  • (4) Jermain Defoe strikes in 89th minute for Sunderland to draw with Liverpool Read more Before the mass departure the Kop loudly sang, “Enough is enough, you greedy bastards, enough is enough” – which was roundly applauded by all four sides of Anfield, including the Sunderland supporters – before launching into ’You’ll Never Walk Alone’, usually reserved for the last few moments of a game.
  • (5) Why not use the report to announce that the bonus tax will continue until banks (and board rooms) control their offensively greedy pay?
  • (6) "We the taxpayer continue to finance the greedy executives while this government continues to cosy up to them in secret negotiations which have no effective outcome.
  • (7) The other airport boss sympathises: "Is it them being greedy, or airlines wanting every ounce of capacity when they can?
  • (8) And in our audiobook review, we examine appetite with Lionel Shriver's novel Big Brother, and Jay Rayner's exploration of the food industry, A Greedy Man in a Hungry World.
  • (9) We should all want our money managers to be greedy, with a strong caveat: the self-interest of bankers needs to be aligned with the health of the bank.
  • (10) The 1% are disproportionately made up not of people who are most able, but of those who are most greedy and least concerned about the rights, feelings and welfare of other people .
  • (11) But as civilisation gets greedy and society more militaristic, these wise women are edged to the sidelines in favour of a thundering, male warrior god.
  • (12) Amurao’s workers have invented their own word to describe anybody who is extravagantly greedy: “Imeldific”.
  • (13) We are either greedy capitalists or we offer bribes.
  • (14) But for the greedy and adventurous, each one is an absolute trip.
  • (15) It was based on a greedy society and unsustainable growth.
  • (16) Others will have a dual purpose and split between personal and business use, such as: • Mortgage interest (but not the capital repayment) or rent if you're a tenant • Running costs such as heat, light and water and TV licence if it's an essential tool • Repairs to your home or adding a desk and bookcase to an existing room • Council tax • Car or van – for a list of allowances for petrol and running costs go to the HMRC website "Don't be greedy by claiming 100% for business use or you will be liable for capital gains tax on that portion when you sell your home.
  • (17) Kleiner Perkins’ attorneys homed in on Pao’s perceived personal shortcomings, painting a cartoonish picture of a greedy and incompetent ex-employee out only for revenge and a big pay day.
  • (18) Bill Winters Ousted from the investment bank JP Morgan after a quarter of a century in 2009, Winters has blamed the banking crisis on "greedy bankers, investors and borrowers".
  • (19) One investor, Joan Woolard, told the bank's directors that anyone who needed more than £1m to live on was "just a greedy bastard".
  • (20) Leaving is a given when you're dealing with very greedy people; they are avaricious.