mercenariness
Money over principle
The quality of being motivated primarily by money or material gain rather than principle, loyalty, or higher purpose.
Mercenariness suggests a willingness to do almost anything if the price is right: The mercenariness of his legal work was obvious—he'd represent anyone who could pay.
The word carries strong disapproval, implying that someone has subordinated ethics to profit.
Excessive desire for riches
- covetousnessExcessive desire for possessions
- acquisitivenessDesire to gather wealth
- rapacityAggressive, seizing greed
- graspingnessExcessive desire to acquire
money-grubbing · cupidity · venality · self-interest · materialism · insatiability · hoarding · selfishness
Openness to bribes
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- buyableAvailable for purchase
- purchasableAvailable for acquisition
unprincipled · unscrupulous · sellout · expedience · prostitution · betrayal · disloyalty · treachery
Exploiting scarcity for gain
- extortionObtaining through threats
- usuryExtortionate money lending
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
- opportunismExploiting circumstances for gain
swindling · fleecing · overcharging · bilking · gouging · racketeering · scalping
Paid military contractors
- contractorHired construction professional
- freelanceSelf-employed project work
- paidGave money owed
- commissionedFormally assigned a task
salaried · bought · retained · enlisted · employed · engaged · recruited · professional
avarice
Excessive desire for riches
- covetousnessExcessive desire for possessions
- acquisitivenessDesire to gather wealth
- rapacityAggressive, seizing greed
graspingness · money-grubbing · cupidity · venality · self-interest · materialism · insatiability · hoarding · selfishness · voracity
venality
Openness to bribes
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- corruptionDishonest abuse of power
- buyableAvailable for purchase
purchasable · unprincipled · unscrupulous · sellout · expedience · prostitution · betrayal · disloyalty · treachery · faithlessness
profiteering
Exploiting scarcity for gain
opportunism · swindling · fleecing · overcharging · bilking · gouging · racketeering · scalping
guns-for-hire
Paid military contractors
- contractorHired construction professional
- freelanceSelf-employed project work
- paidGave money owed
commissioned · salaried · bought · retained · enlisted · employed · engaged · recruited · professional
mercenarinessaltruism
Prioritizing others' wellbeing
selflessness · idealism · unselfishness · disinterestedness · benevolence
mercenarinessgenerosity
Readiness to give freely
charity · liberality · magnanimity · generousness · openhandedness
mercenarinesscontentment
Peaceful satisfaction with circumstances
fulfillment · fulfilment · satisfaction · gratification · self-actualization