Skip to main content
to kowtow

to kowtow

12 9.2
To behave very obediently to please a person in power
  • verb
  • /ˈkaʊˌtaʊ/
translation icon : postrarse ante
  • When the crew was eventually released, an outraged Chinese public accused the government of weakness and kowtowing to the West.
  • kowtow to government

It's always been kowtowing to the miserable joy eaters.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Women are fifty-one percent of the population; why would you kowtow to those who keep trying to disenfranchise them?

    Blog text (32)
  • He refused to kowtow to his supervisor's unreasonable demands, believing in standing up for his principles.

  • People have been trying to get me to kowtow all my life.

  • Is it more important to God that you kowtow to Him than that you not harm His other children?

    Blog text (2)
  • He will not kowtow to the far left of his own party.

  • I chose to succeed on my own terms, not kowtow to some controlling family.

  • I'm not kowtowing to Washington or anyone else.

  • Peter is cautious, a conformist who, as mayor of his town, kowtows to the rich.

    Blog text (29)
  • The days of putting Americans last, of kowtowing to large corporations, of caving to woke ideology are over.

  • Even top congressional leaders and American presidents must kowtow to Israel to survive politically in America's false democracy.

    Blog text (25)

Synonyms

to bow
vsto kowtow
127 6.3

To give in to another person's wishes or demands

is focused on extreme obedience to please authority rather than simple yielding
to grovel
vsto kowtow
42 7.4

Behave like you are begging or crawling to get someone's forgiveness

is extreme but focuses on pleasing authority rather than seeking forgiveness
to bow down
vsto kowtow
30 3.7

Lower your head or body to show respect, often as a sign that you obey someone

is more extreme servile action aimed specifically at pleasing authority
to suck up
vsto kowtow
  • Informal
26 8.0

To praise someone to get their approval

is like extreme pleasing but the key emphasizes submissive behaviour over flattery
to fawn
vsto kowtow
25 7.7

Act very friendly and praise someone to gain their favor

is more focused on servile obedience to please authority rather than gentle flattery
to kowtow to
vsto kowtow
9 8.9

To show too much respect and obedience to someone in power

is identical in meaning but adds a common preposition form
to knuckle under
vsto kowtow
  • Informal
4 8.4

To give in to pressure or someone in charge even if you do not want to

is similar but the key implies active pleasing not reluctant compliance
to bow and scrape
vsto kowtow
  • Archaic
3 9.4

Behave too politely and humbly to please someone

is more about deep submissiveness to please authority rather than general flattery
to toady
vsto kowtow
1 9.1

Flatter and obey someone in power to get their favor

is personal pleasing to authority and often more extreme than simple flattery
to bend the knee
vsto kowtow
1 8.4

To show loyalty and obey a powerful person

is more about extreme personal pleasing rather than symbolic or ceremonial submission
to truckle
vsto kowtow
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To act too obediently to someone in power

is extreme submission aimed at pleasing authority rather than mild yielding
to bootlick
vsto kowtow
  • Offensive
1 8.7

To praise or obey someone in power to get their support

is similar but focuses specifically on obsequious praise rather than just submission
7.1

To do what someone else wants even if you do not want to

is more extreme and focused on seeking favor rather than simply yielding

Antonyms

178 3.7

Openly refuse to obey someone or seem to resist a force like time

48 4.1

To act against the government or people in power

Phrasal Verbs

9 8.9

To show too much respect and obedience to someone in power

How Submissive

to grovel
42 7.4
to kowtow
12 9.2
to submit
187 4.1
to obey
411 1.0
to comply
332 3.8

Surface Forms

kowtow infinitive
kowtowed past
kowtowed past participle
kowtowing present participle
kowtows third person singular

Etymology

Kowtow, as a verb, comes from the same Chinese kòu tóu 'knock head' gesture, and it now means to act very obedient or bow down to someone, as if you were doing that deep gesture to please them.