Meaning & use
kowtowing
Last updated
Acting in an excessively submissive or obedient way toward someone in authority.
See it in a sentence
Employees grew tired of kowtowing to a manager who never appreciated their effort.
The film mocks executives who spend their careers kowtowing to shareholders.
A note on using this word
Originally referred to the Chinese custom of kneeling and touching one's forehead to the ground as a sign of deep respect; in English it's now used figuratively and often critically.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
defying
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