slavish

slav·ish

adjective \ˈslā-vish sometimes ˈsla-\

Definition of SLAVISH

1

a : of or characteristic of a slave; especially : basely or abjectly servile

b archaic : despicable, low

2

archaic : oppressive, tyrannical

3

: copying obsequiously or without originality : imitative

— slav·ish·ly adverb

— slav·ish·ness noun

Examples of SLAVISH

1. a politician and his slavish followers
2. He has been criticized for his slavish devotion to the rules.

First Known Use of SLAVISH

1565

Related to SLAVISH

Synonyms

apish, canned, emulative, epigonic (or epigonous), formulaic, mimetic, mimic, imitative, unoriginal

Antonyms

archetypal (also archetypical), original

Related Words

copied, cribbed, plagiarized; artificial, bogus, factitious, fake, false, imitation, man-made, mock, sham, simulated, substitute, synthetic; duplicated, photocopied, reduplicated, reproduced, transcribed; backup; counterfeit, deceptive, forged, fraudulent, misleading; cut-and-dried (also cut-and-dry), perfunctory, routine, uninspired

Near Antonyms

authentic, bona fide, legitimate, true; genuine, natural, real; classic, ideal, model

See Synonym Discussion at subservient

Rhymes with SLAVISH

knavish