wendigo

/ˈwɛndɪɡoʊ/
noun
  1. A mythical creature from Algonquian folklore, often described as a malevolent, cannibalistic spirit or monster associated with winter, starvation, and greed.
    • The legend of the wendigo warns against the dangers of greed and cannibalism.
    • In the story, the hunter was transformed into a wendigo after eating human flesh to survive.
    • Many horror movies feature a wendigo as a terrifying, emaciated creature with glowing eyes.
  2. A person who exhibits extreme greed, selfishness, or a willingness to harm others for personal gain, often in a metaphorical sense.
    • In the novel, the landlord becomes a wendigo, evicting families without mercy.
    • The corrupt CEO was called a wendigo for destroying the environment to increase profits.
    • Some critics describe unchecked capitalism as creating a wendigo-like hunger for more.
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