piggish
/'pigiʃ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- 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