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Latin served us servile with the help of servilis, itself from servus, the Latin word for "slave." Servus is also an ancestor of serve, service, and servitude. Synonyms of servile in English include subservient, slavish, and obsequious. Subservient implies the cringing manner of someone who is very conscious of having a subordinate position. Slavish suggests abject or debased servitude. Obsequious implies fawning or sycophantic compliance and exaggerated deference of manner. Servile suggests the fawning behavior of one in forced servitude.
Examples of servile in a Sentence
had always maintained a servile attitude around people with money
Recent Examples on the Web
Unfortunately, Trump takes servile flattery as his due.
—
Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026
Of course, all of this convenient acquiescence will sound familiar in the United States, where our own Congress and Department of Justice have been nothing if not servile to a brazenly corrupt executive.
—Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
That this man’s-man tough guy becomes utterly servile in the presence of a bunch of slack-casual bazillionaires is the cherry on top of the fascist sundae.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Julia was the first weekly TV series that starred a Black woman in a role that wasn't servile.
—Starr Rocque, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for servile
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Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026
Of course, all of this convenient acquiescence will sound familiar in the United States, where our own Congress and Department of Justice have been nothing if not servile to a brazenly corrupt executive.
—Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
That this man’s-man tough guy becomes utterly servile in the presence of a bunch of slack-casual bazillionaires is the cherry on top of the fascist sundae.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
Julia was the first weekly TV series that starred a Black woman in a role that wasn't servile.
—Starr Rocque, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for servile
Cite this Entry
“Servile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/servile. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
servile
adjective
ser·vile
ˈsər-vəl 
-ˌvīl
1
: of or appropriate to a menial position
2
: lacking spirit or independence : submissive
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