piggishness
/'pigiʃnis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. The quality or state of being piggish; excessive greed, especially for food: Piggishness describes the characteristic of behaving like a pig, primarily in showing an immoderate, selfish, or gluttonous desire to consume, particularly food. 2. Offensive or unpleasant behavior resembling that of a pig: It can also refer to general behavior that is considered crude, dirty, or disagreeable.
Usage
- Piggishness is an uncountable noun.
- It is a strongly negative and critical term used to condemn someone's lack of manners or restraint, especially regarding eating.
- It is more commonly used in a figurative sense to describe human behavior than in a literal sense about pigs.
Examples
- The sheer piggishness of his eating habits, grabbing food from others' plates, disgusted everyone at the table.
- Her piggishness wasn't just about quantity; it was the noisy, hurried way she devoured her meals.
- The critic condemned the piggishness of the corporation, accusing it of greedily consuming smaller competitors.
Advanced Usage
- "To display/show/exhibit piggishness": To act in a gluttonous or greedy manner.
- He displayed remarkable piggishness at the all-you-can-eat buffet.
- "An act of piggishness": A specific instance of greedy or gluttonous behavior.
- Taking the last three slices of cake was an unconscionable act of piggishness.
Variants and Related Words
- Piggish (adjective): Having the qualities of piggishness; gluttonous, greedy, or crude.
- He was criticized for his piggish behavior at the dinner party.
- Pig (noun/verb): The animal; also used figuratively for a greedy, dirty, or unpleasant person. As a verb, "to pig out" means to eat greedily.
- Hoggishness (noun): A very close synonym, also meaning greedy and gluttonous behavior.
Synonyms
- Gluttony
- Greediness
- Voraciousness
- Rapacity
- Insatiability
Antonyms
- Temperance
- Moderation
- Abstinence
- Restraint
- Asceticism
Noun
- an excessive desire for food