grovel

verb

ˈgrä-vᵊl How to pronounce grovel (audio)
Definition of grovelnext
1
as in to cringe
to draw back or crouch down in fearful submission the way in which the abused dog would grovel whenever its owner came near

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to crawl
to move slowly with the body close to the ground because of their anatomy, bats can only grovel while moving along the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grovel Here the adult narrator creates an atmosphere closer to Schulz’s erotic drawings, obsessively filled with images of the artist himself groveling at the feet of lithe young women. — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 12 Feb. 2026 Political courage is needed, especially from the cowardly, groveling Congress. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026 That’s the saddest cash-grab gimmick ever, groveling for Dubai dollars. — Sports Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Jan. 2026 The stringent businessman makes Marty suffer and grovel for his money, at one point exerting his power by spanking the young man’s bare bottom with a wooden ping-pong paddle. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grovel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grovel
  1. cringe
  2. crawl
  3. flinch
  4. creep
  5. cower
  6. snake
  7. slide
  8. slither
Verb
  • Brandon Aiyuk's increasingly routine cringe social media posts have already cost him the respect of some NFL coaches and general managers, and that is costing him money.
    — Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026
  • For tips on how to stop cringing about an awkward moment, read our comic.
    — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 18 July 2026
Definition of cringe
Verb
  • Not everyone’s job includes crawling 150 feet through a spillway pipe 20 feet beneath a lake.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
  • Markets do not hold still for a year and a half while your deal crawls through due diligence.
    — Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of crawl
Verb
  • When Bob calls him a devil for shooting his own blood, Max doesn't flinch.
    — JP Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026
  • Both Mojave soft sand and chunky rocks can be challenging in spots but the Subaru didn’t flinch.
    — Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of flinch
Verb
  • Eventually, a car or a minivan will creep down the narrow dirt road, ready to collect migrants who have paid at least $1,000 for GPS coordinates and guidance on how to get across.
    — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • Many of the dummies evolved admirably over the competition’s final hour, complete with fine laugh lines and subtle details like creeping wisps of nose hair, which were gingerly applied with tweezers and Krazy Glue.
    — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
Definition of creep
Verb
  • The other customers cowered in the corners, while crowds formed at the windows outside, shrieking and recording the scene on their phones.
    — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026
  • Democracies are composed of citizens with free will, not subjects cowering at the feet of rulers.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026
Definition of cower
Verb
  • Here, too, there were echoes of Keegan’s blissful early days, when queues snaked outside the stadium hours before kick-off and every victory felt like alchemy.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • The new district snakes up through Kansas City’s urban core, in an attempt to create a district more favorable for Republicans in the 5th District.
    — Jack Harvel July 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
Definition of snake
Verb
  • These styles feature a thicker strap that’s wrapped around the heel—no sliding here.
    — Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 3 Aug. 2026
  • This, as Iran’s currency continues to slide, inflation spirals, and unemployment rises.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of slide
Verb
  • Laura stepped right into her body, felt a small resistance and then the give as the rival slithered, eagerly, into the air.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
  • Here are seven solutions to keep these animals slithering past your yard.
    — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 6 July 2026
Definition of slither

Browse Nearby Words

grove
grovel
groveled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grovel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grovel. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of grovel for Spanish Speakers

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