Meaning & use
obsequious
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivecomparabledisapprovingformal
Too eager to please or obey someone, in a way that seems insincere and is meant to win favor.
Grammar: Used to describe a person's manner or behavior; often before a noun or after a linking verb.
Patterns
- obsequious to someone
- obsequious behavior
- an obsequious waiter
The obsequious waiter kept bowing and praising every choice we made.
He was obsequious to his boss, hoping for a promotion.
Her obsequious flattery made everyone uncomfortable.
Word forms
| comparative | more obsequious |
|---|---|
| superlative | most obsequious |
Common combinations
- obsequious to someone
- The new intern was obsequious to the manager, agreeing with everything.
- obsequious behavior
- His obsequious behavior at the meeting annoyed his colleagues.
- obsequious flattery
- She saw through his obsequious flattery immediately.
- obsequious smile
- The salesman gave an obsequious smile as we walked in.
Synonyms and how they differ
- servile
- Servile means overly submissive like a servant; obsequious often adds a hint of insincerity and trying to win favor.
- fawning
- Fawning means showing exaggerated affection or admiration; obsequious is more about eager obedience and flattery.
- sycophantic
- Sycophantic describes flattering powerful people for personal gain; obsequious can be broader, describing any overly eager-to-please manner.
Opposites
Word family
- obsequiously adverb
- In an obsequious manner.
- obsequiousness noun
- The quality of being obsequious.
Commonly confused: obsequious or obsequies?
obsequious vs obsequies
Obsequies are funeral ceremonies, while obsequious describes a person's overly eager-to-please behavior.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'obsequious' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 1 fits because 'obsequious' describes someone too eager to please, often to gain favor. Option 0 is wrong because an obsequious person would not ignore requests. Option 2 is wrong because obsequious behavior is not a sign of strong leadership. Option 3 is wrong because 'obsequious' does not describe funerals.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “obsequious”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.