grovel 1 of 3

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

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groveling

2 of 3

adjective

variants or grovelling

groveling

3 of 3

verb (2)

variants or grovelling
present participle of grovel
1
as in cringing
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

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
Verb
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
Verb
Cue the fine and the groveling league apology. Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026 Political courage is needed, especially from the cowardly, groveling Congress. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 18 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grovel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grovel
Verb
  • Enervated cuteness and tryhard sincerity define a whole new wave of musicians, from Pittsburgh rockers feeble little horse to cringe-pop upcycler Worldpeace DMT to SoundCloud producer MASSI, whose songs spill with the tiny adorable detail of a toy train set.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • As pests crawl through it, its jagged edges scrape their exoskeletons, dehydrating and killing them.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 June 2026
  • For cybersecurity companies, identifying a digital agent crawling a website used to be enough evidence of malicious activity.
    Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • The story does not flinch from the realities of segregation, including the violence that the family faced moving into white neighborhoods in Fort Worth in the 1950s, but there is more hope than fear, more faith in the power of righteousness to defeat injustice, in its pages.
    Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • Credit card APRs are still parked near record highs, after all, and rates on mortgages and many other loan products have barely flinched, meaning there are big affordability challenges for those who need to borrow money in today's landscape.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • The look of elation that creeps over his face is a perfect encapsulation of everything that long-suffering Knicks fans were feeling when the ad aired.
    Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 16 June 2026
  • But the sheer brutality and creeping terror of the simplistic opening scene makes the rest of the film — with its gratuitous set pieces and CGI gore — seem much more inelegant.
    Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 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
  • Longtime stores and newer spots at destinations like The Strip District Terminal are bringing extra staff, extending hours and stocking up for busy weekends when sidewalks are shoulder-to-shoulder, and lines snake out the doors.
    Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 19 June 2026
  • In certain soaring drone shots, the Gobi’s dry, greige sprawl looks like nothing so much as the surface of another planet, at least until it’s disrupted by snaking manmade infrastructure and drab light industry.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 14 June 2026
  • Within a year, the Legislature beefed up safety regulations on mobile homes, requiring them to be secured with anchors and tie-downs to prevent overturning and sliding during heavy winds.
    Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • The roaring bassline slithers beneath a wavering flute note before the floor gives out, and the song begins its fast and furious descent.
    Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 12 June 2026
  • Homeownership feels increasingly out of reach for many Americans, but not for this group of creatures, which slithered into an uninhabited home in Arkansas, much to the chagrin of the realtor trying to sell it.
    Drew Pittock, USA Today, 5 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Grovel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grovel. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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