a tendency to consider physical possessions and comforts as more important than spiritual values
example
His relentless pursuit of wealth has led him down a path of materialism, where he values possessions over meaningful relationships.
synonyms
consumerismphysicalismgreed
word origin — The term 'materialism' comes from the Latin word 'materia', meaning 'matter'. The philosophical meaning emerged in the late 19th century.
IELTS Vocabulary — Set 77
Set 77 of IELTS Vocabulary covers 5 words: materialism, flesh, criterion, witticism, impulsiveness. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
materialism · noun/məˈtɪr.i.ə.lɪ.z(ə)m/
a tendency to consider physical possessions and comforts as more important than spiritual values
His relentless pursuit of wealth has led him down a path of materialism, where he values possessions over meaningful relationships.
Synonyms: consumerism, physicalism, greed
Origin: The term 'materialism' comes from the Latin word 'materia', meaning 'matter'. The philosophical meaning emerged in the late 19th century.
flesh · noun/flɛʃ/
the soft substance of the body of a human or animal consisting of muscular and adipose tissue
The hunter skinned the animal, carefully removing the flesh from the bones for the stew.
Synonyms: meat, tissue, muscle
Origin: Middle English 'flesh', from Old English 'fleos' meaning 'the soft substance of a body'; related to German 'Fleisch' and Dutch 'vlees'.
criterion · noun/kraɪˈtɪriən/
a standard or principle by which something is judged or decided
The main criterion for selecting the candidate was their ability to work well under pressure.
Synonyms: standard, principle, benchmark
Origin: from Greek 'kriterion' meaning 'a means for judging'
witticism · noun/ˈwɪtɪsɪzəm/
a cleverly witty remark or saying
His sharp wit was evident in every witticism he shared at the dinner party, leaving everyone entertained.
Synonyms: quip, jest, joke
Origin: The word 'witticism' originates from the root 'wit', which comes from the Old English 'witt' meaning 'knowledge, understanding' and is related to the German 'Witz'. The suffix '-cism' is added to indicate a state or quality.
impulsiveness · noun/ɪmˈpʌlsɪvnəs/
the tendency to act on sudden urges or desires without thinking ahead
Her impulsiveness often led her to make hasty decisions that she later regretted.
Synonyms: impulsivity, rashness, spontaneity
Origin: The word 'impulsiveness' originates from the Latin word 'impulsus,' meaning 'to push or drive forward,' combined with the suffix '-ness' which denotes a state or quality.