as in to fuss
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior
you can try kowtowing to the boss, but he'll see right through you
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of kowtow
Now he’s put them in the position of appearing ridiculous in order to kowtow yet again to CTU.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025
Where the refusal of the Ukrainian president to don a suit for the Oval Office becomes a public symbol of his refusal to kowtow.
—Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Beijing has shown a strong capacity for retaliation and a tactical openness to negotiation, but not a willingness to kowtow.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025
Many of the university’s new policies have been seen by some critics as kowtowing to the Trump Administration.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kowtow
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025
Where the refusal of the Ukrainian president to don a suit for the Oval Office becomes a public symbol of his refusal to kowtow.
—Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Beijing has shown a strong capacity for retaliation and a tactical openness to negotiation, but not a willingness to kowtow.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025
Many of the university’s new policies have been seen by some critics as kowtowing to the Trump Administration.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for kowtow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kowtow
Verb
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Inside, Seán glanced briefly away from the television as the women fussed at Orla’s return.—
Anne Enright,
New Yorker,
27 July 2025
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But other times, windows would be rearranged seemingly at random, with unused space and weird gaps that require you to fuss around and move all your windows around again.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 July 2025
Verb
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The Empire was a sinister, one-note shadow: faceless Storm Troopers, toadying fascistic generals, a cackling emperor, and of course Darth Vader, an enigmatic demon masked and cloaked in black.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
25 Apr. 2025
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The only other psychological need that rivals his thirst for toadying is the pursuit of .—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Alice killing Jane gets its own paragraph: After awkwardly running like Taylor Swift in that treadmill commercial, Alice hops over Jane, grabs her by the throat, and feeds her to a drooling wolf.—
Wolfgang Ruth,
Vulture,
1 May 2025
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Symptoms may include excessive panting, glazed eyes, lethargy, drooling, vomiting, or confusion.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
Verb
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Unless Trump’s art of the deal is all about truckling to Putin.—
Maureen Dowd,
The Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2025
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Garbarino enjoyed his time with the Southern river rats and mountain folk, and their refusal to truckle to authority delights him to this day.—
David Samuels,
Town & Country,
18 Oct. 2013
Verb
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The public can also submit comments online until Sept. 22.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
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If your nonprofit would like to submit an event listing or photos of events that have happened recently, please email linda.mcintosh@sduniontribune.com.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Singer and actor Adam Lambert has waved goodbye to his super chic Beverly Hills, California, estate for $6.2 million and is passing it on to new owners who too will fawn over its epic views.—
TJ Macias
July 23,
Sacbee.com,
23 July 2025
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Whether mentioned on TV or published in People Magazine, the list of celebrities fawning over the game keeps growing, including Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager (of the Today Show), Julia Roberts, Jessica Parker, Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, Meagan Markle and more.—
Irene S. Levine,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kowtow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kowtow. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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