obsequiousness
- noun
- /əbˈsiːkwiəsnəs/
- Her obsequiousness towards the wealthy guests was apparent in her exaggerated compliments.
I've never seen such obsequiousness to such a disgusting, unmanly person as Donald Trump.
- I've never seen such obsequiousness to such a disgusting, unmanly person as Donald Trump.
- Some die hard DeSantis fans, virtually all of whom I knew and liked, and advisors asking softball questions that felt almost Pravda esque in their obsequiousness.
Examples
-
There is a great deal of obsequiousness and hand-kissing.
Fiction book (1992) -
The assistant's constant obsequiousness made his boss feel uncomfortable.
-
Other scholars take obsequiousness to new levels.
Academic text (2007) -
He makes obsequiousness an art form.
-
Nor does it see a policy of obsequiousness as a serious means of securing natural resource deliveries.
Blog text (28) -
She thought about the obsequiousness of the bank manager and wondered just how much her grandfather was worth.
Fiction book (1991) -
Her obsequiousness to Obama and his minions is cloying.
Blog text (33) -
She smirked at him, at his coterie of obsequiousness.
Fiction book (1999) -
He finds the old woman's obsequiousness comical.
Fiction book (2000) -
PET's policy of short-term obsequiousness may have long-term repercussions.
Academic text (2007)
Synonyms
Being too willing to obey other people without question
To be too eager to please and obey others in a weak, fearful way
A habit of obeying others and not speaking up
A habit of flattering and obeying a person in power to gain favor
Accepting another person's authority and doing what they say
Antonyms
Freedom from control by others, for example when a country is free or a person supports themselves
How Submissive
Surface Forms
Morphology
obsequiousness = obsequious (transparent) = obsequious + ness
A regular noun formed by adding the productive suffix '-ness' to the adjective 'obsequious', so the quality is directly derived from the adjective.
Etymology
The word obsequiousness comes from Latin parts ob- ('toward') and sequi ('to follow') and shares the same root as sequence. It gives the image of someone who 'follows' another person too closely to please them, so the word means being too eager to obey or flatter.