whole-hog

1 of 3

adjective

: committed without reservation : thoroughgoing
a whole-hog patriot

whole hog

2 of 3

noun

: the whole way or farthest limit
usually used adverbially in the phrase go the whole hog

whole hog

3 of 3

adverb

: to the fullest extent : without reservation : completely
accepting whole hog the standards … of the majorityR. B. Kaplan

Examples of whole-hog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The latest advances in generative AI have gone whole-hog into the use of a chain-of-thought (CoT) as a key component inside the AI. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024 Or, take the model of something like Jelly’s Last Jam and go whole-hog with a concept like putting your lead on trial in the afterlife — that recent Encores! production does, unfortunately for A Wonderful World, hang in comparison to this jazz-icon musical. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
Noun
Barcelona’s Barca Innovation Hub is going the whole hog in using AI to provide physical support, with the aim of reducing injuries through the analysis of blood cells and so on. Phil Hay, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025 The second development was that Donald Trump and his family jumped whole hog into the crypto market. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024 One of the first was going whole hog into native plants without understanding anything about them. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1829, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1825, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of whole-hog was in 1825

Dictionary Entries Near whole-hog

Cite this Entry

“Whole-hog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whole-hog. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

whole hog

1 of 2 noun
: the whole way or farthest limit : all
go the whole hog and invite all your friends

whole hog

2 of 2 adverb
: to the fullest extent : completely
accepted whole hog their explanation of events
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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