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; see 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

Vance was never the first choice for even that obsequious role.

From Salon • Sep. 5, 2025

Does Moretti start knocking off Ariel’s colleagues because they’re too obsequious or not slavish enough?

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2025

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

I sat at a table where were rich food and wine in abundance, an obsequious attendance, but sincerity and truth were not; and I went away hungry from the inhospitable board.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer