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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Related Words

See servile.

Other Word Forms

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

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; ob-, -ium, -ous

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

Mr. Landau may be a revered figure in the history of rock, but Mr. Cooper and Mr. Strong’s version of him reminded me of Paul Shaffer’s obsequious Artie Fufkin in “This Is Spinal Tap.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

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

From BBC • Jul. 5, 2025

In fact, the formality of the opera, including the obligatory obsequious prologue in praise of Louis XIV, is what makes “Médée” special.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2023

Other actors make their characters’ relative lack of backstory work wonders, especially Dave Foley’s obsequious but effective Danish Graves, Lorraine’s devoted fixer blessed with one of the series’ best names.

From Salon • Nov. 21, 2023

The man dares to meet Grandfather’s gaze with an obsequious grin.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir