obsequious

[ uhb-see-kwee-uhs ]
See synonyms for: obsequiousobsequiouslyobsequiousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. characterized by or showing servile obedience and excessive eagerness to please; fawning; ingratiating: an obsequious bow;obsequious servants.

Origin of obsequious

1
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin obsequiōsus, equivalent to obsequi(um) “compliance,” derivative of obsequ(ī) “to comply with” (equivalent to ob- + sequī “to follow”) + -ium + -ōsus; see ob-, -ium, -ous

synonym study For obsequious

1. See servile.

Other words for obsequious

1 cringing, flattering, grovelling, kowtowing, obeisant, oleaginous, servile, subservient, sycophantic, sycophantish, toadying, toadyish
2 deferential, submissive
See synonyms for obsequious on Thesaurus.com

Other words from obsequious

  • ob·se·qui·ous·ly, adverb
  • ob·se·qui·ous·ness, noun
  • o·ver·ob·se·qui·ous, adjective
  • o·ver·ob·se·qui·ous·ly, adverb
  • un·ob·se·qui·ous, adjective
  • un·ob·se·qui·ous·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with obsequious

Words Nearby obsequious

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use obsequious in a sentence

  • The bland, obsequious, well-informed Ramsay became a great favourite.

    Art in England | Dutton Cook
  • No man in the world understood Mr. Belcher better than the quick-witted and obsequious factor.

    Sevenoaks | J. G. Holland

British Dictionary definitions for obsequious

obsequious

/ (əbˈsiːkwɪəs) /


adjective
  1. obedient or attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner

  2. rare submissive or compliant

Origin of obsequious

1
C15: from Latin obsequiōsus compliant, from obsequium compliance, from obsequi to follow, from ob- to + sequi to follow

Derived forms of obsequious

  • obsequiously, adverb
  • obsequiousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012