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sheeplike

sheeplike

1 6.8
Being quiet and willing to follow others without question
  • adjective
  • /ˈʃiːpˌlaɪk/
translation icon : ovejuno
  • In the meeting, everyone nodded in agreement, showing their sheeplike acceptance of the proposal.

Examples

  • The answer is apparently a lot more than the sheeplike Albany progressives who are supposed to be great "organizers" and fight for causes and couldn't even find a candidate for an open seat.

    Blog text (22)
  • Health science has sent the first out of the window entirely, and the stupid, sheeplike compliance of GPs is steadily eroding the second.

    Blog text (15)
  • I am impressed with all the little sheeplike minds.

    Blog text (29)
  • Who wanted only to lay down in the boat, off from shore, and let the storm bear him and his sheeplike companions away.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Or the town's thieves and adulterers and his sheeplike acceptance of them sitting in the front pews, their faces masks of haughty and false devotion.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The students followed the teacher's instructions in a sheeplike manner during the drill.

  • Despite the chaos, the crowd moved sheeplike, trusting the guide to lead them safely.

Synonyms

sheepy
vssheeplike
1 7.9

Having a soft, woolly look or a gentle, shy way

focuses on being docile timid and easily led rather than general appearance
lamblike
vssheeplike
6.3

Very gentle and quiet like a lamb

emphasizes submissive easily led temperament rather than youthful gentleness
fawnlike
vssheeplike
7.0

Having a gentle, shy, innocent manner like a young deer

focuses more on being easily led and submissive than simple innocence

Antonyms

984 2.3

Not controlled by others

42 4.2

Showing confidence when saying what you want or think

How Docile

submissive
38 5.1
sheeplike
1 6.8
tame
9 3.4
meek
12 4.4
docile
22 5.5

Surface Forms

sheeplike positive

Morphology

sheeplike = sheep (transparent) = sheep + like

The adjective is a straightforward formation from 'sheep' + '-like' meaning 'resembling a sheep', which most learners can infer.

Etymology

Sheeplike comes from sheep and the part -like, where sheep brings the picture of an animal that follows quietly and -like means 'similar to'. So, sheeplike describes someone who is 'easily led' or 'timid', like a sheep.