obsequious

[ uhb-see-kwee-uhs ]

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.

obsequious

/ əbˈsiːkwɪəs /

adjective

1. obedient or attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner
2. rare.
   submissive or compliant

Derived Forms

• obˈsequiousness, noun
• obˈsequiously, adverb

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsequious¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of obsequious¹

C15: from Latin obsequiōsus compliant, from obsequium compliance, from obsequi to follow, from ob- to + sequi to follow

Synonym Study

See servile.

Example Sentences

Sitting in the dais, next to Speaker Johnson, she would be on camera throughout the speech, which would no doubt contain lines designed to make her seem—in the eyes of some viewers—obsequious to Israel if she applauded and hostile if she did not.

From Slate

Chabria: It was, as you put it, like watching a Friars roast — just one obsequious testimonial after another.

From Los Angeles Times

“Obsequious, oversized and unaccountably frightening” declared the Washington Post’s critic Sebastian Smee.

From Salon

“The Russian political elite have grown more pliant in implementing Putin’s orders and more obsequious to his paranoid worldview,” he wrote.

From Seattle Times

Mr. Pancholy played the obsequious assistant to Alec Baldwin’s character on the TV show “30 Rock” and voiced Baljeet in the cartoon “Phineas and Ferb.”

From New York Times