Pigheaded
PIG-hed-id
/ˈpɪɡhedɪd/
Stupidly stubborn and obstinately refuse to listen to reason or good advice.
Carries an insulting tone that emphasizes stupidity and foolishness along with stubbornness.
The story behind the word. Coined in the early 17th century based on traditional folklore attributing foolishness, greed, and blunt stubbornness to swine.
Word relationships
- bullheaded: 'Bullheaded' emphasizes aggressive stubbornness; 'pigheaded' emphasizes stupid, foolish obstinacy.
- mulish: 'Mulish' implies sullen refusal to move; 'pigheaded' implies stupidly making bad choices.
- reasonable: Reasonable implies having sound judgment and willingness to listen to sense.
- sensible: Sensible means showing wisdom and practical awareness.
Commonly confused with
- Headstrong: Headstrong young people are impetuous and energetic; pigheaded people are foolishly and stupidly inflexible.
Word family
- pigheadedness (noun): foolish and stubborn obstinacy
Collocations
- pigheaded foolishness
- pigheaded refusal
- pigheaded arrogance
- remain pigheaded
Idioms & expressions
- thick-skulled
- bullheaded
Example sentences
- "He was too pigheaded to ask for directions, so we ended up driving in circles for two hours." Casual complaint
- "Don't be so pigheaded; listen to what the doctor says before deciding on your treatment." Family dialogue
Memory hook
PIG-HEADED: A person whose head is as thick as a farm PIG's snout—nothing gets through! Thick-skulled foolish stubbornness.
When not to use
Never use in formal academic, professional, or diplomatic writing; it is a direct insult.
Fun facts
- Despite the metaphor, pigs are widely considered by animal cognitive scientists to be among the smartest domesticated animals!
Related words
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