groveling 1 of 2

variants or grovelling

groveling

2 of 2

verb

variants or grovelling
present participle of grovel
1
as in flinching
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

2
as in crawling
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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for groveling
Adjective
  • And the obsequious fealty shown to him by the Republican Party reinforces why a president running amok should never have this much power again.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Republicans insist Zelenskyy hasn’t been sufficiently obsequious to the United States, which is a point Vance hammered.
    The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • So Alex dons a uniform, buses tables and engages in servile labor for the first time in her life.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Trump’s servile devotion to Putin becomes the new norm overnight as Republicans cower in support of Trump’s new Putin policy.
    Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The staff member can be seen cowering down to fend off the attack and then turns and squares up to the irate passenger, who’s wearing a green colored top and army green pants.
    Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 29 Nov. 2024
  • The trauma of war is ever-present in Honda's vision, which sees citizens fleeing for their lives and cowering in the rubble of their homes.
    Katie Rife, EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Excavations unearthed priceless statues and reliefs, including depictions of crouching lions and a youthful male figure.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 Dec. 2024
  • This may include defensive movements or acting submissively—tucking their tail between their legs, lowering their eyes or crouching to appear smaller.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Clearly only on the qualification that Habba — a small-time lawyer who formerly served as general counsel for a parking garage company — was her sycophantic defense of the president during his criminal imbroglios.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 May 2025
  • The bond between single mother and daughter, once seemingly unshakeable, has come under unbearable strain due to Leslie's sycophantic drive to expose an explosive secret, and Eva's increasing reluctance to play accomplice.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Employees of a store in the Aloha State were in for a slithering surprise after a two-foot snake was found inside a shipping container of Christmas trees sent to the island.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2024
  • The world's largest slithering snake is sure to send a tingle down your spine.
    Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Despite working in a position of power within the ecosystem of the hotel, they are still essentially subservient to all of their guests, if not significantly less well off.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025
  • We are not subservient to a king or anyone else out of Washington.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The secret in the biscuits is the pairing of cheddar with bacon, with the overall result being worshipful thanks from those who are lucky enough to partake.
    Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Her chef and housekeeper, Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher), is timid and worshipful but able to take quietly decisive action when necessary.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Groveling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groveling. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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