3

The term hog, as defined below, is an informal word.

1.3 informal A greedy person.

‘Our King was, in a simple statement, a greedy, power-hungry covetous hog.’

(Oxford Dictionaries)

Obligatory SWR example sentence:

How would Brenda (Queen Elizabeth II) say 'hog'?

Phillip! You're [hogging] all of one's bed!

My example is a bit tongue-in-cheek but I would prefer something one could say naturally; it doesn't have to be in Royal English.
Is there a formal word for this?

Improve this question
6
  • 3
    My dear Phillip, must you be so cupidinous of the covers?
    – tchrist ♦
    Oct 30, 2016 at 22:50
  • 1
    Gourmand is a term for someone who eats like a pig.
    – Hot Licks
    Oct 31, 2016 at 0:09
  • 1
    For other terms consult a thesaurus, using one of the words below as a key.
    – Hot Licks
    Oct 31, 2016 at 0:11
  • 1
    Do you have a preference for part-of-speech? Your example sentence suggests a verb, but most people who only see the title will think of a noun. Of the current answers, one is a verb, one a noun, and one an adjective.
    – herisson
    Oct 31, 2016 at 3:14
  • 1
    @suməlic No particular preference, no. I am happy even with some sort of rephrasing as aparente001 has done.
    – BladorthinTheGrey
    Oct 31, 2016 at 7:02

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
5

How about monopolize?

From M-W:

monopolize: to get a monopoly of : assume complete possession or control of

monopolist: a person who monopolizes

monopoly: exclusive possession or control

Your example:

Phillip! You're monopolizing the bed!

I can easily imagine Brenda (Queen Elizabeth II) saying this.

Improve this answer
2
  • This is quite good and I saw it when researching a definition. However, I don't think it fits so well in a normal sentence.
    – BladorthinTheGrey
    Oct 31, 2016 at 7:01
  • @BladorthinTheGrey Thanks. It has it's uses, e.g., monopolize a conversation.
    – Richard Kayser
    Oct 31, 2016 at 11:14
2

Covetous (adj.) could do.

  1. inordinately or wrongly desirous of wealth or possessions; greedy.
  2. eagerly desirous.

from Dictionary.com

This word is an adjective. If you need a noun, use covetous person.

I noticed after posting that this word was used in the OP's example sentence as "covetous hog". In a sense, the phrase "covetous hog" is, to some degree, a tautology, since a hog is covetous and a covetous person is often a hog.

Another word is Acquisitive (adj.) (found using a Google search for "synonyms for greedy"). Here is Dictionary.com's definition:

  1. tending or seeking to acquire and own, often greedily; eager to get wealth, possessions, etc.:

from Dictionary.com

This word seems to imply more of the action involved in being a hog. A covetous person might not actually acquire any of whatever it is that they covet, while an acquisitive person might be a covetous person who is actually doing so.

Improve this answer
4
  • 1
    Could you please use more of your own words so it’s a real answer?
    – tchrist ♦
    Oct 30, 2016 at 23:22
  • 1
    Could you be more specific as to what you are looking for? I acknowledged and cited the source I am using for the definition. The idea to choose the word was my own work - I am relying on the citation only as proof of the definition.
    – Robert Columbia
    Oct 30, 2016 at 23:24
  • 1
    Thank you for that. We’re trying to build up a library of expert answers, and these single-word requests are a problem if they don’t do that.
    – tchrist ♦
    Oct 30, 2016 at 23:25
  • You're welcome. I have expanded my answer with more analysis of my own doing.
    – Robert Columbia
    Oct 30, 2016 at 23:37
1

If a phrase will do...

Phillip! You're taking all the covers for yourself!

Improve this answer
1

Glutton is a more formal term and is used to suggest the idea of greed and and sheer desire to do something that you are referring to:

  • a person with a remarkably great desire or capacity for something: a glutton for work; a glutton for power.

Dictionary.com

Improve this answer
4
  • Gluttony implies some sort of greed, in my experience. Also, it doesn't imply that they are taking up most of something, think about 'road hog'
    – BladorthinTheGrey
    Oct 30, 2016 at 22:42
  • 1
    Could you please use more of your own words so it’s a real answer?
    – tchrist ♦
    Oct 30, 2016 at 23:22
  • @tchrist - are you saying that my answer, as it stands, is an instance of plagiarism?
    – user66974
    Nov 1, 2016 at 7:16
  • 1
    Thank you for editing to add some of your own words. I’m saying that an answer that is nothing but copypasta from a General Reference is AT BEST very low quality and quite possibly not even an answer at all by site standards. Because answers should be mostly your own words, not copypasta, such minor contributions may wind up being flagged as Very Low Quality or Not an Answer and eventually deleted. If there are several of these, it probably means the question should be closed as Too Broad or Off Topic. English Language & Usage is not a copypasta service or a guessing game.
    – tchrist ♦
    Nov 1, 2016 at 12:44

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.