slavish

[ sley-vish ]

See synonyms for: slavish slavishly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of or befitting a slave: slavish subjection.
being or resembling a slave; abjectly submissive: He was slavish in his obedience.

base; mean; ignoble: slavish fears.
deliberately imitative; lacking originality: a slavish reproduction.

Origin of slavish

First recorded in 1555–65; slave + -ish¹

synonym study For slavish

2. See servile.

Other words for slavish

2	groveling, sycophantic, fawning, cringing

See synonyms for slavish on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for slavish

2	independent
3	exalted

See antonyms for slavish on Thesaurus.com

Other words from slavish

slav·ish·ly, adverb
slav·ish·ness, noun
o·ver·slav·ish, adjective
o·ver·slav·ish·ly, adverb
o·ver·slav·ish·ness, noun

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

How to use slavish in a sentence

Onstage, this slavish adherence to traditional format is surely part of the show’s charm, another function of its lovingly self-mocking tone.
Thanks to Ryan Murphy, Netflix throws an inclusive ‘Prom’ | John Paul King | December 5, 2020 | Washington Blade
K-pop slavishly copies from the boy-band/girl-band model that began in the US 20 years ago and crossed-over to Japan.
Gangnam Style, Ctd. | Justin Green | September 27, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
He may want to emulate, sometimes almost slavishly, the late President François Mitterrand, his political godfather.
Obama: Pay Attention to Europe | Christopher Dickey | May 8, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
And for much of the early part of the 20th century, Americans were slavishly following French cooking.
Reichl’s Favorite Food Books | The Browser | August 11, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
The Alaskan continues her unmatched mastery of the press—getting them to slavishly follow her Tour to Nowhere.
How Palin's Winning the Media War | Matt Latimer | June 2, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST

Ten shillings and Jaffery's peremptory order to stick to his side and obey him slavishly took the place of intellectual workings.
Jaffery | William J. Locke
When Yeobright was not with Eustacia he was sitting slavishly over his books; when he was not reading he was meeting her.
Return of the Native | Thomas Hardy
Nevertheless, I do not believe any sculptor should slavishly adhere to the canons of form laid down by the tailor.
The Strand Magazine, Volume XXVII, January 1904, No. 157 | Various
Herrera did not publish his results, which are slavishly chronological in their method, till half a century later (1601-15).
Christopher Columbus and How He Received and Imparted the Spirit of Discovery | Justin Winsor
But this old rule is by no means slavishly followed in polite society in this country.
Martine's Hand-book of Etiquette, and Guide to True Politeness | Arthur Martine

British Dictionary definitions for slavish

slavish

/ (ˈsleɪvɪʃ) /

adjective

of or befitting a slave
being or resembling a slave; servile

unoriginal; imitative
archaic ignoble

Derived forms of slavish

slavishly, adverb
slavishness, 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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