Slavish
adjective
Showing complete obedience, like a slave.
He copied the painting with slavish accuracy.
Often appears as...
- slavish obedience
- slavish imitation
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Copying or following someone or something exactly, without any creativity or originality.
The building is a slavish imitation of the original.
Often appears as...
- slavish imitation
- slavish adherence
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Showing extreme respect or devotion to a cause or person in an uncritical or unthinking way.
She has a slavish devotion to her job.
Often appears as...
- slavish devotion
- slavish worship
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Showing complete obedience, like a slave.
He copied the painting with slavish accuracy.
Often appears as...
- slavish obedience
- slavish imitation
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Copying or following someone or something exactly, without any creativity or originality.
The building is a slavish imitation of the original.
Often appears as...
- slavish imitation
- slavish adherence
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Showing extreme respect or devotion to a cause or person in an uncritical or unthinking way.
She has a slavish devotion to her job.
Often appears as...
- slavish devotion
- slavish worship
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/2Total Obedience
Use 'slavish' to emphasize total compliance with authority, like following orders without question.
His slavish adherence to the rules surprised everyone.
Pro Tip 2/2Negative Connotation
'Slavish' often has a negative undertone, suggesting lack of freedom or dignity.
The employees showed slavish dedication to the corrupt leader.
Pro Tip 1/2Total Obedience
Use 'slavish' to emphasize total compliance with authority, like following orders without question.
His slavish adherence to the rules surprised everyone.
Pro Tip 2/2Negative Connotation
'Slavish' often has a negative undertone, suggesting lack of freedom or dignity.
The employees showed slavish dedication to the corrupt leader.
Pro Tip 1/2Total Obedience
Use 'slavish' to emphasize total compliance with authority, like following orders without question.
His slavish adherence to the rules surprised everyone.
Pro Tip 2/2Negative Connotation
'Slavish' often has a negative undertone, suggesting lack of freedom or dignity.
The employees showed slavish dedication to the corrupt leader.
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Video examples
12 sustainable design...
it's not a slavish mimicry; it's taking the design principles, the genius of the natural world, and learning something from it. Now, in a group with so many IT people, I do have to mention what I'm not going to talk about, and that is that your field
Video examples
12 sustainable design...
it's not a slavish mimicry; it's taking the design principles, the genius of the natural world, and learning something from it. Now, in a group with so many IT people, I do have to mention what I'm not going to talk about, and that is that your field
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
William Wallace
Scottish Revolutionary
When I was a boy, the priest, my uncle, carefully inculcated upon me this proverb, which I then learned and have ever since kept in my mind: 'Dico tibi verum, Libertas optima rerum; Nunquam servili, sub nexu vivito, fili.' 'I tell you a truth: Liberty is the best of things, my son; never live under any slavish bond.
Quote examples
John Adams
American President
I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.
Quote examples
Martha Beck
American Author
My dog has the intellectual capacity of a lime wedge, yet even he possesses an elaborate set of assumptions, based on his ability to control my behavior through a combination of slavish devotion and incessant howling.
Quote examples
Betty Friedan
American Activist
A woman is handicapped by her sex, and handicaps society, either by slavishly copying the pattern of man's advance in the professions, or by refusing to compete with man at all.
Quote examples
Larry Page
American Businessman
The idea that everyone should slavishly work so they do something inefficiently so they keep their job - that just doesn't make any sense to me. That can't be the right answer.
Quote examples
Friedrich Nietzsche
German Philosopher
There are slavish souls who carry their appreciation for favors done them so far that they strangle themselves with the rope of gratitude.
Quote examples
Ulysses S. Grant
American President
If men make war in slavish obedience to rules, they will fail.
Quote examples
Mary Shelley
English Author
A slavish bondage to parents cramps every faculty of the mind.
Quote examples
Kim Il-sung
North Korean Leader
Peace secured by slavish submission is not peace.
Quote examples
Horace
Roman Poet
O imitators, you slavish herd!
Quote examples
William Wallace
Scottish Revolutionary
When I was a boy, the priest, my uncle, carefully inculcated upon me this proverb, which I then learned and have ever since kept in my mind: 'Dico tibi verum, Libertas optima rerum; Nunquam servili, sub nexu vivito, fili.' 'I tell you a truth: Liberty is the best of things, my son; never live under any slavish bond.
Quote examples
John Adams
American President
I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.
Quote examples
Martha Beck
American Author
My dog has the intellectual capacity of a lime wedge, yet even he possesses an elaborate set of assumptions, based on his ability to control my behavior through a combination of slavish devotion and incessant howling.
Quote examples
Betty Friedan
American Activist
A woman is handicapped by her sex, and handicaps society, either by slavishly copying the pattern of man's advance in the professions, or by refusing to compete with man at all.
Quote examples
Larry Page
American Businessman
The idea that everyone should slavishly work so they do something inefficiently so they keep their job - that just doesn't make any sense to me. That can't be the right answer.
Quote examples
Friedrich Nietzsche
German Philosopher
There are slavish souls who carry their appreciation for favors done them so far that they strangle themselves with the rope of gratitude.
Quote examples
Ulysses S. Grant
American President
If men make war in slavish obedience to rules, they will fail.
Quote examples
Mary Shelley
English Author
A slavish bondage to parents cramps every faculty of the mind.
Quote examples
Kim Il-sung
North Korean Leader
Peace secured by slavish submission is not peace.
Quote examples
Horace
Roman Poet
O imitators, you slavish herd!
Example 1 of 10
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