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YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

Obsequious

Adjective

IPA /əbˈsiːkwɪəs/

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Meaning in plain English

Excessively eager to please or obey; overly submissive and flattering.

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Pronunciation

Obsequious/əbˈsiːkwɪəs/

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  1. Someone has power

  2. Excessive flattery and obedience

Obsequious behaviour goes beyond ordinary politeness in trying to please.

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  1. The obsequious waiter laughed at every joke the wealthy man told.
  2. She grew tired of his obsequious compliments, which felt insincere.

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The ________ waiter laughed at every joke the wealthy man told.
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Obsequious — Excessively eager to please or obey; overly submissive and flattering.

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Excessively eager to please or obey; overly submissive and flattering.

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Word origin

From Latin obsequiosus (“dutiful, compliant”), from obsequi — ob- (“toward”) + sequi (“to follow”).

Did you know?

Obsequious is disapproving: it suggests excessive eagerness to please, especially someone powerful. Obsequiously is the adverb.

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Obsequious

/əbˈsiːkwɪəs/ (Adjective)

“Formal and critical: obsequious describes excessive eagerness to please someone, especially a powerful person. Ordinary politeness is not enough.”

englishskillstudio.com