servile

[ sur-vil, -vahyl ]

adjective

1. slavishly submissive or obsequious; fawning:

   servile flatterers.

   Synonyms: obsequious

   Antonyms: insubordinate

2. characteristic of, proper to, or customary for slaves; abject:

   servile obedience.

   Synonyms: lowly, humble, obedient

   Antonyms: superior, lordly, disobedient

3. yielding slavishly; truckling (usually followed by to ).
4. extremely imitative, especially in the arts; lacking in originality.
5. being in slavery; oppressed.
6. of, relating to, or involving slaves or servants.
7. of or relating to a condition of servitude or property ownership in which a person is held in slavery or partially enslaved:

   medieval rebellions against servile laws.

servile

/ ˈsɜːvaɪl; sɜːˈvɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. obsequious or fawning in attitude or behaviour; submissive
2. of or suitable for a slave
3. existing in or relating to a state of slavery
4. whenpostpositive, foll by to submitting or obedient

Derived Forms

• ˈservilely, adverb
• servility, noun

Other Words From

• ser·vile·ly adverb
• ser·vil·i·ty [sur-, vil, -i-tee], ser·vile·ness noun
• non·ser·vile adjective
• non·ser·vile·ly adverb
• o·ver·ser·vile adjective
• o·ver·ser·vile·ly adverb
• pseu·do·ser·vile adjective
• pseu·do·ser·vile·ly adverb
• un·ser·vile adjective
• un·ser·vile·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of servile¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English servil(e), serville, from Latin servīlis “of a slave, slavish, servile,” equivalent to serv- (stem of servus “slave”) + -īlis -ile; serf ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of servile¹

C14: from Latin servīlis, from servus slave

Synonym Study

Servile, menial, obsequious, slavish characterize one who behaves like a slave or an inferior. Servile suggests cringing, fawning, and abject submission: servile responses to questions. Menial applies to that which is considered undesirable drudgery: the most menial tasks. Obsequious implies the ostentatious subordination of oneself to the wishes of another, either from fear or from hope of gain: an obsequious waiter. Slavish stresses the dependence and labori-ous toil of one who follows or obeys without question: slavish attentiveness to orders.

Example Sentences

"We’ve lived through many ups and downs, but nothing has made us more worried for our country than the threat posed by a second Trump term. He has promised to be a dictator on day one, and the recent ruling by his servile Supreme Court will only embolden him to further shred the Constitution. Now is the time to support Kamala Harris and fight with everything we’ve got to elect her. America’s future depends on it," President Clinton and Secretary Clinton write in their statement, both backing Harris.

From Salon

He loves it even more than obedience from people who've always been servile to him, like Giuliani.

From Salon

Neither do the echoes from his servile party, especially the Republicans vying to be his running mate.

From Los Angeles Times

With the meeting Thursday, Mr. Macron hoped to find some unity on bolstering support for Ukraine or, short of that, to expose opponents who in his view remain too weak-kneed or servile to Moscow.

From New York Times

Unquestioned leaders and servile followers tell us why the German army marched into Russia without overcoats — the leader had decreed that the campaign would be victorious by autumn, and that was that.

From Salon