Definitions

obsequious

[uhb-see-kwee-uhs] / əbˈsi kwi əs /

ADJECTIVE

groveling, submissive

Synonyms

WEAK

abject beggarly brown-nosing complacent compliable compliant cringing crouching deferential enslaved fawning flattering ingratiating kowtowing menial obeisant oily parasitic parasitical prostrate respectful servile slavish sneaking sniveling spineless stipendiary subject submissive subordinate subservient sycophantic toadying unctuous

Antonyms

WEAK

arrogant assertive brazen confident presumptuous

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

You need someone who has a large ego but will be obsequious.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2024

The humor laced through her lickspittles' obsequious efforts to placate her doesn’t quite dare you to laugh but isn’t going out of its way to encourage giggles either.

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2024

I had a little go with Pi.ai myself, and I found it to be a bit obsequious, like a friend who just agrees with everything you say.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2024

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

Vocabulary lists containing obsequious

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