mercenary
/ˈmɜː.sə.nə.ɹi/
Group 9Difficulty 2/3
Definitions
- (adjective)
- Primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics GRE
- (noun)
- A professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army GRE
Example in Context
The critic accused the publisher of mercenary motives, arguing that profit considerations had taken precedence over editorial judgment.
Synonyms
money-drivengreedyhired
Etymology
Originally referring to someone who works for payment or reward, often at the cost of ethics.
- merces (Latin) — reward
Memory Aid
💰Sounds like “mercy nary”
A mercenary with MERCY NARY in their heart, only caring about CASH!
Visual Association
💵A soldier holding a bag of money, looking at a battlefield with no ethics in sight.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “mercenary” mean on the GRE?
mercenary (adjective) means “Primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics”. The critic accused the publisher of mercenary motives, arguing that profit considerations had taken precedence over editorial judgment.
How to remember “mercenary” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “mercenary” sounds like “mercy nary”. A mercenary with MERCY NARY in their heart, only caring about CASH!
What are synonyms for “mercenary”?
Common synonyms: money-driven, greedy, hired.