Thesaurus

kowtowing

adjective

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Synonyms & Antonyms of kowtowing

(Entry 1 of 2)

as in subservient, obsequious

Synonyms & Near Synonyms for kowtowing

fawning,
obeisant,
obsequious,
servile,
slavish,
subordinate,
subservient

amenable,
biddable,
compliant,
conformable,
docile,
law-abiding,
obedient,
submissive,
tractable

acquiescent,
agreeable,
amiable,
duteous,
dutiful,
obliging,
placable

soft,
surrendering,
yielding

decorous,
disciplined,
mannerly,
orderly

constrained,
curbed,
inhibited,
repressed,
restrained

controllable,
disciplinable,
governable,
handleable,
manageable,
tame,
teachable,
tractable,
trainable

gentle,
meek,
mild

Antonyms & Near Antonyms for kowtowing

insurgent,
mutinous

dogged,
hardheaded,
headstrong,
mulish,
obdurate,
obstinate,
peevish,
pigheaded,
self-willed,
stubborn,
unyielding

uncontrollable,
unmanageable,
wild

balky,
defiant,
perverse,
resistant

bad,
disorderly,
errant,
misbehaving,
mischievous,
naughty

ill-bred,
undisciplined

dissident,
nonconformist

disrespectful,
ill-mannered,
impolite,
impudent,
insolent,
rude

kowtowing

verb

present participle of kowtow

Synonyms & Antonyms of kowtowing (Entry 2 of 2)

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 for kowtowing

apple-polishing,
bootlicking,
fawning,
fussing,
sucking (up),
toadying,
truckling

Words Related to kowtowing

drooling,
gushing,
slavering,
slobbering

endearing,
ingratiating

courting,
wooing

adulating,
idolizing,
worshipping
(also worshiping)

blandishing,
cajoling,
coaxing,
flattering,
overpraising,
soft-soaping

cowering,
cringing,
groveling
(or grovelling)

abasing,
debasing,
demeaning

deferring,
submitting,
yielding

Phrases Synonymous with kowtowing

currying favor,
kissing up to

Near Antonyms for kowtowing

despising,
disdaining,
scorning

gibing
(or jibing),
jeering,
scoffing

braving,
challenging,
defying

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kowtowing

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'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'?