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subservientness

subservientness

9.9
A habit of obeying others and not speaking up
  • noun
  • /səbˈsɜrviəntnəs/
translation icon : sumisión
  • Her subservientness in meetings made it difficult for her opinions to be heard.

Examples

  • The leader exploited the subservientness of his followers to maintain control.

  • The subservientness of the employees worried the management.

  • Critics argued that her subservientness reflected a reluctance to challenge authority.

  • Her subservientness to her boss was evident in every meeting.

  • Her subservientness in the workplace made it hard for her to express her ideas.

  • The subservientness of the staff contributed to a lack of innovation in the company.

  • Many people criticized his subservientness towards his superiors, believing he should stand up for himself.

Synonyms

obedience
vssubservientness
91 2.6

Willing to do what a person in charge asks

implies more unquestioning, servile readiness than neutral compliance
subservience
vssubservientness
3 8.1

Being too willing to obey other people without question

is general willingness to obey without extra servile emphasis
submissiveness
vssubservientness
1 6.0

A willingness to accept someone else's authority and follow them

carries stronger sense of unquestioning obedience or servile behavior
servility
vssubservientness
1 8.7

To be too eager to please and obey others in a weak, fearful way

is less cringing and more about plain unquestioning compliance
obsequiousness
vssubservientness
1 9.9

Being too eager to please and obey someone to gain their favor

focuses more on plain obedience rather than flattering behavior
suppliance
vssubservientness
  • Archaic
9.9

Accepting another person's authority and doing what they say

describes the ongoing state or quality rather than a single act

Antonyms

608 3.0

Freedom from control by others, for example when a country is free or a person supports themselves

How Submissive

servility
1 8.7
subservientness
9.9
obedience
91 2.6
compliance
171 5.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

subservientness = subservient (transparent) = subservient + ness

The noun is a regular nominalization of the adjective 'subservient' using the productive suffix '-ness'.

Etymology

The word subservientness comes from sub- meaning 'under' and the same root as serve, as in servant, which gives the image of someone placed 'under' another person. So, subservientness is the state of willingly obeying others and acting in a lower or dependent way.