servile

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adjective ser·vile \ˈsər-vəl, -ˌvī(-ə)l\

Definition of servile

1 : of or befitting a slave or a menial position
2 : meanly or cravenly submissive : abject

servilely

play \-və(l)-lē, -ˌvī(-ə)l-lē\ adverb

servileness

play \-vəl-nəs, -ˌvī(-ə)l-\ noun

servility

play \(ˌ)sər-ˈvi-lə-tē\ noun

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Examples of servile in a Sentence

had always maintained a servile attitude around people with money

Recent Examples of servile from the Web

Even LifeNews, a usually servile, pro-Kremlin tabloid site, has admitted this new reality.

— joshua yaffa, The New Yorker, "What the Russian Protests Mean for Putin", 27 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'servile'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

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 one very conscious of a subordinate position." "Slavish" suggests abject or debased servitude. "Obsequious" implies fawning or sycophantic compliance and exaggerated deference of manner. "Servile" suggests the mean or fawning behavior of a slave.

Origin and Etymology of servile

Middle English, from Anglo-French servil, from Latin servilis, from servus slave

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of servile

subservient, servile, slavish, obsequious mean showing or characterized by extreme compliance or abject obedience. subservient implies the cringing manner of one very conscious of a subordinate position. domestic help was expected to be properly subservient servile suggests the mean or fawning behavior of a slave. a political boss and his entourage of servile hangers-on slavish suggests abject or debased servility. the slavish status of migrant farm workers obsequious implies fawning or sycophantic compliance and exaggerated deference of manner. waiters who are obsequious in the presence of celebrities