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

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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 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 Rather than wait it out until January 2029, when magical thinking assumes the current transatlantic nightmare will come to an end, the EU needs to stop groveling and build greater sovereignty. Matthias Matthijs, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grovel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grovel
Verb
  • While some automotive enthusiasts still cringe at the mention of a continuously variable transmission, Subaru’s execution here is among the better examples in the industry.
    Tim Jackson, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
  • More comics journalism from Life Kit Still cringing about that awkward moment?
    Andee Tagle, NPR, 25 May 2026
Verb
  • While some political observers are brushing off speculation that a deluge of ballots could allow Steyer to crawl into the top two, conservative activists are keeping a close watch.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 5 June 2026
  • The next day, with water levels having dropped inside the cave, the remaining four men caught rescuers by surprise, crawling out on their own just as divers were getting ready to go in and get them.
    Janis Mackey Frayer, NBC news, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • The executive producer and star points to earlier moments in the season, like when Ruben flinched at the sight of his dad through his bedroom window.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 29 May 2026
  • However, Wall Street hasn’t flinched.
    Dylan Butts, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Chartreuse creeping Jenny adds even more contrast.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 June 2026
  • But even after this evacuation, the 911 call log and the new county report show sheriff’s deputies responded to an increasing number of spot fires and flare-ups that continued to creep farther west.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • With several strippers, patrons and employees cowering in fear, the two men talk.
    Selome Hailu, Variety, 1 June 2026
  • Anaia, feeling jilted that the letter was addressed only to Racine, cowers in hurt, like a street cat.
    Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Photos and a video Aiello provided show bladed wire snaking around the decomposing animal’s neck and curved horns, as well as the front legs, in a desert landscape dotted with boulders.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
  • The concept is sure to be alluring to many travelers, as snaking lines from March’s government shutdown still loom large in fliers’ collective memories and summer vacation crowds begin to throng terminals.
    Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • The elastic bands also make the sandals easy to slide on for airport security, quick coffee runs, or poolside lounging.
    Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
  • The first goal came after winger Robinson lost the ball in midfield and Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson was allowed to run from the halfway line to the box, eventually sliding a pass through to captain Sadio Mane, who was never going to make a mistake on a chance like that.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Despite his efforts in yelling for help, that hole ended up being the very thing that killed him as a rattlesnake slithered into the coffin and fatally attacked him.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 30 May 2026
  • The video begins with a shoeless Kennedy, dressed in a button-down shirt, trousers, and a tie, approaching the snakes slowly, crouching down as the snakes slither into a corner of the patio.
    Mason Leib, ABC News, 27 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Grovel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grovel. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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