Word
obsequious
Phoneticsob·se·quious
US/əbˈsikwiəs/
UK/ɒbsˈɛkwɪəs/
Definition
adj. trying too hard to please or obey someone important, in a way that doesn't seem genuine. You might describe someone as obsequious if they are overly flattering to their boss, for example.
adj. overly obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree. carries a strong negative connotation, implying that the deference is insincere and motivated by self-interest.
Examples
“The new assistant is obsequious toward the manager.”
“The manager, surrounded by obsequious advisors, never heard any honest criticism of his poor decisions.”
“The court was filled with obsequious nobles vying for the king's favor through elaborate praise and feigned loyalty.”
Examples
simple
“The new assistant is obsequious toward the manager.”
contextual
“The manager, surrounded by obsequious advisors, never heard any honest criticism of his poor decisions.”
complex
“The court was filled with obsequious nobles vying for the king's favor through elaborate praise and feigned loyalty.”
Etymology
From Middle English obsequyous, from Latin obsequiōsus (“complaisant, obsequious”), from obsequium (“compliance”), from obsequor (“comply with, yield to”), from ob (“in the direction of, towards”) + sequor (“follow”) (cf. sequel).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/obsequious