obsequious
adjective
ob·se·qui·ous
əb-ˈsē-kwē-əs 
äb-
: marked by or exhibiting a fawning attentiveness
obsequiously
adverb
obsequiousness
noun
Did you know?
Follow Along With the Definition of Obsequious
According to the origin of the word, an obsequious person is more likely to be a follower than a leader. The word comes from Latin sequi, meaning "to follow"; the prefix ob- means "toward."
Examples of obsequious in a Sentence
But the Democratic presidential nominee is commonly referred to as Elvis, and his running mate as Eddie Haskell, that obsequious weenie from '50s TV.
—
Guy Trebay, Village Voice, 28 July 1992
He could wear an oxford shirt and necktie and speak the local language, in every sense, and never act obsequious or look as though he felt out of place.
—Tracy Kidder, New England Monthly, April 1990
The obsequious villagers touched their caps but sneered behind her back.
—"George Sand," 1980,
in V. S. Pritchett: A Man of Letters, 1985
Nash's other hand flashed forward a lighter with the obsequious speed of a motor salesman.
—Ian Fleming, From Russia, With Love, 1957
She's constantly followed by obsequious assistants who will do anything she tells them to.
Guy Trebay, Village Voice, 28 July 1992
He could wear an oxford shirt and necktie and speak the local language, in every sense, and never act obsequious or look as though he felt out of place.
—Tracy Kidder, New England Monthly, April 1990
The obsequious villagers touched their caps but sneered behind her back.
—"George Sand," 1980,
in V. S. Pritchett: A Man of Letters, 1985
Nash's other hand flashed forward a lighter with the obsequious speed of a motor salesman.
—Ian Fleming, From Russia, With Love, 1957
She's constantly followed by obsequious assistants who will do anything she tells them to.
Recent Examples on the Web
What was criminal in the eyes of Putin and occasioned Navalny’s death was his work exposing the tyrant, his obsequious oligarchs and lickspittle party United Russia as crooks, thieves and killers.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 15 Nov. 2024
Sunny initially speaks in an obsequious ChatGPT-generic tone, but the robot gradually adopts Suzie’s speech patterns, softening Suzie’s initial skepticism.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
What about her incessantly supportive mother (Rosemarie DeWitt) or her obsequious assistant (Miles Gutierrez-Riley)?
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024
Those words were the theme for the entire stay, from the friendly but not obsequious doormen, to the at-the-ready house car (a hybrid Bentley SUV, naturally), to the peaceful, never-overcrowded Hanover Square directly across the street.
—Laura Ratliff, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obsequious 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 15 Nov. 2024
Sunny initially speaks in an obsequious ChatGPT-generic tone, but the robot gradually adopts Suzie’s speech patterns, softening Suzie’s initial skepticism.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2024
What about her incessantly supportive mother (Rosemarie DeWitt) or her obsequious assistant (Miles Gutierrez-Riley)?
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024
Those words were the theme for the entire stay, from the friendly but not obsequious doormen, to the at-the-ready house car (a hybrid Bentley SUV, naturally), to the peaceful, never-overcrowded Hanover Square directly across the street.
—Laura Ratliff, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for obsequious
Articles Related to obsequious
Dictionary Entries Near obsequious
Cite this Entry
“Obsequious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsequious. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
obsequious
adjective
ob·se·qui·ous
əb-ˈsē-kwē-əs
äb-
: overly eager to help or obey at the wish or command of another person especially to gain favor
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share