Definition

Adjective 1. Resembling a pig in behavior or characteristics: Having qualities associated with pigs, such as being greedy, gluttonous, slovenly, or selfish. 2. Coarsely gluttonous or greedy: Showing a crude, excessive, and selfish desire for food, money, or possessions.

Usage

The adjective "piggish" is used to describe a person's behavior, manners, or attitude in a highly critical and disapproving way. It emphasizes a lack of refinement, consideration for others, and self-control. It is a strong, negative term.

Examples

• His piggish table manners, such as chewing with his mouth open and grabbing food, were off-putting.
• She displayed a piggish greed for the last piece of cake, taking it without offering to share.
• The critic described the character's piggish accumulation of wealth at the expense of the poor.
• It was piggish of him to take the largest portion when everyone was equally hungry.

Advanced Usage

• "piggishness" (noun): The quality or state of being piggish.
  • His sheer piggishness at the buffet was legendary.
• Used metaphorically beyond food, to describe insatiable greed for anything (e.g., power, attention, resources).
  • The corporation's piggish consumption of natural resources drew widespread condemnation.

Variants and Related Words

• Piggy (also adj.): A slightly less formal, often more childish synonym for "piggish."
  • "Don't be so piggy!" his mother scolded.
• Porcine (adj.): A more formal, often zoological or descriptive term meaning "of or like a pig." It can be neutral (relating to pigs) or carry a similar negative connotation to "piggish."
  • The porcine features of the statue were remarkably detailed.
• Swine (n.): The animal; also used as a strong insult for a contemptible person.
• Swine-like / Swinish (adj.): Direct synonyms for "piggish."

Synonyms

• Gluttonous
• Greedy
• Voracious
• Rapacious
• Hog-like
• Selfish
• Slovenly

Antonyms

• Abstinent
• Moderate
• Temperate
• Generous
• Selfless
• Fastidious

Idioms and Phrases

• To eat like a pig / To be a pig: Common idioms meaning to eat in a greedy, messy, or noisy manner. "Piggish" is the adjectival form of this concept.
  • He ate like a pig at the dinner, which was very piggish behavior.

Adjective

1. resembling swine; coarsely gluttonous or greedy
   • piggish table manners
   • the piggy fat-cheeked little boy and his porcine pot-bellied father
   • swinish slavering over food