grovel

[ gruhv-uhl, grov- ]

See synonyms for: grovel groveling grovelling groveler on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),grov·eled, grov·el·ing or (especially British) grov·elled, grov·el·ling.

to humble oneself or act in an abject manner, as in great fear or utter servility.
to lie or crawl with the face downward and the body prostrate, especially in abject humility, fear, etc.

to take pleasure in mean or base things.

Origin of grovel

1585–95; back formation from obsolete groveling (adv.), equivalent to obsolete grufe face down (<Old Norse ā grūfu face down) + -ling², taken to be present participle

Other words for grovel

1	truckle, toady, fawn, kowtow, pander

See synonyms for grovel on Thesaurus.com

Other words from grovel

grov·el·er; especially British, grov·el·ler, noun
grov·el·ing·ly; especially British, grov·el·ling·ly, adverb
un·grov·el·ing, adjective
un·grov·el·ling, adjective

Words that may be confused with grovel

gavel, gravel, grovel

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use grovel in a sentence

When I picked myself up, I saw half the men securing the crate and the other half grovelling around something on the deck.
Jaffery | William J. Locke
Men fell grovelling, only to be dragged into the open air and resuscitated, then sent once more into the cruelty of the fight.
The White Desert | Courtney Ryley Cooper
He lashed her so long, and he lashed her so sore, That grovelling she lay in a stream of red gore.
The Tale of Brynild, and King Valdemar and his Sister | Anonymous
Then I took to writing, but the motive was grovelling, for I aimed at gaining money and flattery.
The World's Greatest Books, Vol X | Various
The low style of Horace is according to his subject, that is, generally grovelling.
Dryden's Works (13 of 18): Translations; Pastorals | John Dryden

British Dictionary definitions for grovel

grovel

/ (ˈɡrɒvəl) /

verb-els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled (intr)

to humble or abase oneself, as in making apologies or showing respect
to lie or crawl face downwards, as in fear or humility

(often foll by in) to indulge or take pleasure (in sensuality or vice)

Origin of grovel

C16: back formation from obsolete groveling (adv), from Middle English on grufe on the face, of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse ā grūfu, from grūfa prone position; see -ling ²

Derived forms of grovel

groveller, noun
grovelling, noun, adjective
grovellingly, adverb

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

Browse