cower

fawn, toady, truckle, cringe, cower mean to behave abjectly before a superior. fawn implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention.

• • waiters fawning over a celebrity

toady suggests the attempt to ingratiate oneself by an abjectly menial or subservient attitude.

• • toadying to his boss

truckle implies the subordination of oneself and one's desires or judgment to those of a superior.

• • truckling to a powerful lobbyist

cringe suggests a bowing or shrinking in fear or servility.

• • a cringing sycophant

cower suggests a display of abject fear in the company of threatening or domineering people.

• • cowering before a bully