Trivia Time

Which phrase evokes obsequious behavior?

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obsequious

American  

[uhb-see-kwee-uhs] / əbˈsi kwi əs /

adjective

1. characterized by or showing servile obedience and excessive eagerness to please; fawning; ingratiating.

   an obsequious bow;

   obsequious servants.

   Synonyms:

   submissive, deferential, subservient, servile, oleaginous, flattering

2. obedient; dutiful.

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obsequious British  

/ əbˈsiːkwɪəs /

adjective

1. obedient or attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner

2. rare submissive or compliant

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Synonym Usage

See servile.

Other Word Forms

• obsequiousness
  noun
• overobsequious
  adjective
• unobsequious
  adjective
• obsequiously
  adverb
• overobsequiously
  adverb
• unobsequiously
  adverb

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Etymology

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

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Explanation

If you disapprove of the overly submissive way someone is acting — like the teacher's pet or a celebrity's assistant — call them by the formal adjective obsequious. There are many words in the English language for a person or an action that is overly obedient and submissive. Obsequious people are usually not being genuine; they resort to flattery and other fawning ways to stay in the good graces of authority figures. An obsequious person can be called a bootlicker, a brownnoser or a toady. You can also say that someone gives an obsequious bow, a gesture that means, "your wish is my command."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

obsequious

Having alienated even his most obsequious dependents, Nero fled the city and killed himself in A.D.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

But perhaps the most obsequious comment was, “Once the president makes a decision, it’s up to everybody who serves in his administration to make it as successful as possible.”

From Salon ● Mar. 23, 2026

It’s going to be this obsequious, bootlicking celebration of Alito’s brilliance.

From Slate ● Feb. 13, 2026

Last month's Nato summit in The Hague was an exercise in obsequious courtship.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2025

If he had once been obsequious to Richard Hunt and the eastern men, he was not now.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

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