Obsequious
adjective
Being too eager to help or agree with someone, usually to gain advantage.
He was obsequious towards the company's director, hoping to get a promotion.
Often appears as...
- an obsequious person
- obsequious behaviour
adjective
Being too eager to help or agree with someone, usually to gain advantage.
He was obsequious towards the company's director, hoping to get a promotion.
Often appears as...
- an obsequious person
- obsequious behaviour
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Nuance
Obsequious has a negative tone, suggesting an excessive eagerness that isn't sincere or genuine.
His obsequious compliments made everyone uncomfortable.
Pro Tip 2/3Power Dynamics
Obsequious behavior often occurs in relationships with unequal power, like between an employee and boss.
The assistant's obsequious manner around the CEO was obvious.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Bad
In some cultures, what might seem obsequious can be seen as polite or respectful, especially in formal settings.
Her obsequious nod to the judge was expected in the courtroom.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Nuance
Obsequious has a negative tone, suggesting an excessive eagerness that isn't sincere or genuine.
His obsequious compliments made everyone uncomfortable.
Pro Tip 2/3Power Dynamics
Obsequious behavior often occurs in relationships with unequal power, like between an employee and boss.
The assistant's obsequious manner around the CEO was obvious.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Bad
In some cultures, what might seem obsequious can be seen as polite or respectful, especially in formal settings.
Her obsequious nod to the judge was expected in the courtroom.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Nuance
Obsequious has a negative tone, suggesting an excessive eagerness that isn't sincere or genuine.
His obsequious compliments made everyone uncomfortable.
Pro Tip 2/3Power Dynamics
Obsequious behavior often occurs in relationships with unequal power, like between an employee and boss.
The assistant's obsequious manner around the CEO was obvious.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Always Bad
In some cultures, what might seem obsequious can be seen as polite or respectful, especially in formal settings.
Her obsequious nod to the judge was expected in the courtroom.
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Video examples
Samantha Power: Shaking...
I will never use the word "unacceptable" again. I will never use it. I will try to make it such, but I will never use that word again. But he lunged in the opposite direction. He started, as I mentioned, to get in the room with evil, to not denounce, and became almost obsequious
Video examples
Samantha Power: Shaking...
I will never use the word "unacceptable" again. I will never use it. I will try to make it such, but I will never use that word again. But he lunged in the opposite direction. He started, as I mentioned, to get in the room with evil, to not denounce, and became almost obsequious
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Mark Leibovich
American Journalist
To cover politics in Washington allows you to live in the very, very wide gap between what the actual truth is, and how people are trying to manipulate the truth. They speak in the language of spin, obsequiousness, obfuscation. The meta of politics is just this endless source of material that can shed light on the psychology of the process.
Quote examples
Matt Groening
American Cartoonist
The Simpsons' from the very beginning was based on our memories of brash '60s sitcoms - you had a main title theme that was bombastic and grabbed your attention - and when you look at TV shows of the 1970s and '80s, things got very mild and toned down and... obsequious.
Quote examples
Denise Mina
Scottish Writer
You have to take your ego out of it and say, do I want people to be obsequious to me or do I want to write good books? If it's the latter, you have to take criticism. It's annoying, but that's how to do good stuff; listen to other people.
Quote examples
Guy Standing
English Actor
The Latin root of 'precariousness' is 'to obtain by prayer.' The precariat must ask for favours, for charity, to show obsequiousness, to plead with figures of authority. It is degrading and stigmatizing.
Quote examples
Liu Xiaobo
Chinese Critic
I have been obsequious toward Western civilization, exaggerating its merits and, at the same time, exaggerating my own merits.
Quote examples
Washington Irving
American Writer
Those men are most apt to be obsequious and conciliating abroad, who are under the discipline of shrews at home.
Quote examples
Neil Innes
British Writer
We weren't going to play the show-biz game, and be obsequious.
Quote examples
Mark Leibovich
American Journalist
To cover politics in Washington allows you to live in the very, very wide gap between what the actual truth is, and how people are trying to manipulate the truth. They speak in the language of spin, obsequiousness, obfuscation. The meta of politics is just this endless source of material that can shed light on the psychology of the process.
Quote examples
Matt Groening
American Cartoonist
The Simpsons' from the very beginning was based on our memories of brash '60s sitcoms - you had a main title theme that was bombastic and grabbed your attention - and when you look at TV shows of the 1970s and '80s, things got very mild and toned down and... obsequious.
Quote examples
Denise Mina
Scottish Writer
You have to take your ego out of it and say, do I want people to be obsequious to me or do I want to write good books? If it's the latter, you have to take criticism. It's annoying, but that's how to do good stuff; listen to other people.
Quote examples
Guy Standing
English Actor
The Latin root of 'precariousness' is 'to obtain by prayer.' The precariat must ask for favours, for charity, to show obsequiousness, to plead with figures of authority. It is degrading and stigmatizing.
Quote examples
Liu Xiaobo
Chinese Critic
I have been obsequious toward Western civilization, exaggerating its merits and, at the same time, exaggerating my own merits.
Quote examples
Washington Irving
American Writer
Those men are most apt to be obsequious and conciliating abroad, who are under the discipline of shrews at home.
Quote examples
Neil Innes
British Writer
We weren't going to play the show-biz game, and be obsequious.
Example 1 of 7
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