as in subordinate
disapproving
too eager to help or obey someone important
She's constantly followed by obsequious assistants who will do anything she tells them to.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obsequious
There were cover stories on him and obsequious profiles.
—
Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025
Rhodes scholars have long had a reputation for being obsequious careerists, transforming themselves into whatever the elite consensus of the day deems worthy.
—airmail.news, 1 June 2024
Listen to this article Mayor Michelle Wu, just a week after what her obsequious supporters hailed as a virtuoso performance before a hostile congressional oversight panel, finds herself suddenly under a harsh federal microscope.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
Many, if not most, of these figures earned Trump’s loyalty by using their platforms to be obsequious stewards of MAGA—in effect, creating a quasi–state media.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsequious
Cory Franklin, Twin Cities, 2 Jan. 2025
Rhodes scholars have long had a reputation for being obsequious careerists, transforming themselves into whatever the elite consensus of the day deems worthy.
—airmail.news, 1 June 2024
Listen to this article Mayor Michelle Wu, just a week after what her obsequious supporters hailed as a virtuoso performance before a hostile congressional oversight panel, finds herself suddenly under a harsh federal microscope.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
Many, if not most, of these figures earned Trump’s loyalty by using their platforms to be obsequious stewards of MAGA—in effect, creating a quasi–state media.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsequious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsequious
Adjective
-
Independent Trustee: The Court favorably noted that the trustees were not related or subordinate to the settlor, and were not beneficiaries of the trust’s income or principal.—
Martin Shenkman,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
-
The Soviets had to send troops into Budapest in 1956 and Prague in 1968 to keep the governments there subordinate to Moscow.—
Robert O. Keohane,
Foreign Affairs,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
The scale asks whether a respondent tends to prefer children who are obedient, well behaved and well mannered or children who are independent, creative and considerate.—
Adam Eichen,
The Conversation,
11 June 2025
-
Those who tend to favor obedient children are scored as having more authoritarian views.—
Adam Eichen,
The Conversation,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
Spots is canine loyalty personified, and Schreiber voices the role like a dutiful soldier.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
-
Then, as the moon reaches its peak in Sagittarius on June 11, your dutiful sixth house of health, routines and acts of service are highlighted, pushing you to examine everything from your day-to-day tasks to your work-life balance.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Bahrain is ruled by Sunnis and has a mostly Shiite population permanently restless over its servile condition.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2025
-
His servile defense secretary has threatened to deploy the military in other cities.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obsequious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsequious. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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