grovel
verb (used without object)
to humble oneself or act in an abject manner, as in great fear or utter servility.
are grovelling
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present progressiveof grovel.present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We do not say that those who do not share our opinion of Buddha, Socrates, Mohammed, Bruno, Cromwell, Danton, or even Plato or Shakespeare, are grovelling materialists and candidates for perdition.
From Flowers of Freethought (Second Series) by G. W. (George William) Foote
They themselves are grovelling and groping in the dark whenever they pretend to fly from the trammels of empiricism, and, like our forefathers, account for what is unaccountable.
From Curiosities of Medical Experience by J. G. (John Gideon) Millingen
We may be aware that we are grovelling and vile, and deserve to be held up to the contempt of our fellows in our native ugliness.
From The Maid of Honour, Volume 2 (of 3) A Tale of the Dark Days of France by Lewis Wingfield
The three servants still are grovelling on the floor.
From Five Little Plays by Alfred Sutro
"Poor fool!" exclaimed Mrs. Pimble, with great indignation; "you are grovelling in the mire of ignorance, and man's foot is on your neck to hold you there."
From Eventide A Series of Tales and Poems by Effie Afton
