obsequious

[ uhb-see-kwee-uhs ]

See synonyms for: obsequious obsequiously obsequiousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

Origin of obsequious

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

obsequies, obsequious

Words Nearby obsequious

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

How to use obsequious in a sentence

Still, for the last year the media has been treating the Abe regime with obsequious deference.
‘Whip it!’ Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s Cabinet Of Horrors | Jake Adelstein | October 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
All week, the nation has been gripped by a classic tale—a powerful yet married man meets a younger, hot, obsequious woman.
Paula Broadwell, Eminem, & More Spurned Lovers Who Went Ballistic | Paula Froelich | November 15, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
As the new-comers arrived, they met a smiling host, an attentive and ready bar-tender, and obsequious waiters and servants.
Charles Duran | The Author of The Waldos
He little thought what a formidable enemy he was then fostering at the court of his obsequious brother sovereign.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol 58, No. 357, July 1845 | Various
Selim was most obsequious, and seemed ready to do everything for my comfort.
Paul Patoff | F. Marion Crawford

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

obedient or attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner
rare submissive or compliant

Origin of obsequious

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

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