kowtows; kowtowed; kowtowing
informal + disapproving
: to agree too easily or eagerly to do what someone else wants you to do : to obey someone with power in a way that seems weak
—usually + to
She refused to kowtow to their demands.
Cite this Entry
“Kowtow.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/kowtow. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
