power-hungry
Wants to dominate
Power-hungry describes someone with an excessive desire for control or authority over others.
The term is almost always critical, suggesting ambition that overrides ethical concerns: a power-hungry dictator, power-hungry executives who'll do anything to climb the ladder.
The hunger metaphor implies an appetite that's never satisfied.
Ruler with total control
- despotRuler with absolute power
- tyrantCruel, absolute ruler
- autocratSole wielder of power
- authoritarianFavoring absolute control
totalitarian · oppressor · strongman · warlord · overlord · iron-fisted · despotic · absolute
Seeking to achieve
- drivenIntensely determined to achieve
- climbingAscending by physical effort
- careeristAdvancement-obsessed professional
- go-getterAmbitious, driven person
striver · scheming · calculating · ruthless · cutthroat · opportunist · self-serving · ladder-climbing
Sly, scheming cleverness
- deviousUnderhanded and calculating
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- underhandedSecretly dishonest or unfair
unscrupulous · insidious · coercive · intimidating · bullying · threatening · blackmail · leverage
Excessive desire for riches
- rapacityAggressive, seizing greed
- insatiableImpossible to satisfy
- voraciousExtremely eager to consume
- graspingGreedy for wealth
acquisitive · hoarding · monopolizing · empire-building · territorial · expansionist · usurpation · annexation
Corrupt payment for influence
- graftIllicit political gain
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
- kickbacksIllegal return payments
payola · patronage · embezzlement · self-dealing · exploitation · profiteering · quid-pro-quo · palm-greasing
dictator
Ruler with total control
authoritarian · totalitarian · oppressor · strongman · warlord · overlord · iron-fisted · despotic · absolute · domineering
aspiring
Seeking to achieve
- drivenIntensely determined to achieve
- climbingAscending by physical effort
- careeristAdvancement-obsessed professional
go-getter · striver · scheming · calculating · ruthless · cutthroat · opportunist · self-serving · ladder-climbing · political
cunning
Sly, scheming cleverness
underhanded · unscrupulous · insidious · coercive · intimidating · bullying · threatening · blackmail · leverage · string-pulling
avarice
Excessive desire for riches
- rapacityAggressive, seizing greed
- insatiableImpossible to satisfy
- voraciousExtremely eager to consume
grasping · acquisitive · hoarding · monopolizing · empire-building · territorial · expansionist · usurpation · annexation · consolidation
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
kickbacks · payola · patronage · embezzlement · self-dealing · exploitation · profiteering · quid-pro-quo · palm-greasing · skullduggery
- leadership flawsarrogance, micromanaging, indecision, favoritism, poor communication
- selfish traitsselfish, greedy, self-centered, self-absorbed, egotistical
- selfishnessselfishness, greed, egoism, narcissism, self-centeredness
- political traitspartisanship, bipartisanship, centrism, conservatism, liberalism
power-hungryunambitious
Lacking desire for achievement
humble · modest · content · meek · unassuming
power-hungryservile
Excessively submissive, lacking independence
submissive · deferential · obedient · subservient · follower
power-hungryselfless
Concerned with others' welfare
altruistic · unselfish · self-sacrificing · magnanimous · retiring
power, hungry, hunger, powerful, empower, powerless, powers, powerfully, powered