as in to fuss
to use flattery or the doing of favors in order to win approval especially from a superior
you can try kowtowing to the boss, but he'll see right through you
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Recent Examples of kowtow
It has also been suggested that Kyiv should agree not to pursue NATO membership for 20 years, a stipulation that critics of this plan argue kowtows to Putin.
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Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 17 Nov. 2024
It has also been suggested that Kyiv should agree not to pursue NATO membership for 20 years, a stipulation that critics of this plan argue kowtows to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
—Caitlin McFall, Fox News, 11 Nov. 2024
López Obrador kowtowed to Trump’s threats of punitive tariffs on Mexican exports unless Mexico did more to stem the flow of Central American migrants.
—Arturo Sarukhan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Feb. 2022
Also in attendance: an inner-child 14-year-old version of Trump himself, who both needles and kowtows to the booming, boorish (and offstage) voice of the adult iteration.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kowtow 
Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 17 Nov. 2024
It has also been suggested that Kyiv should agree not to pursue NATO membership for 20 years, a stipulation that critics of this plan argue kowtows to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
—Caitlin McFall, Fox News, 11 Nov. 2024
López Obrador kowtowed to Trump’s threats of punitive tariffs on Mexican exports unless Mexico did more to stem the flow of Central American migrants.
—Arturo Sarukhan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Feb. 2022
Also in attendance: an inner-child 14-year-old version of Trump himself, who both needles and kowtows to the booming, boorish (and offstage) voice of the adult iteration.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kowtow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kowtow
Verb
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Not all Cybertruck owners will be too fussed about that, though.Carlton Reid, WIRED, 25 Nov. 2024
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The gizmo also includes haptic alerts that can wake you—but not your partner—if your child is fussing.Chris Stokel-Walker, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Hamlet’s toadying friends, the hangers-on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, are Izzard’s own talking hands, popping up to face her like a pair of Muppets.Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2024
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This is the aspect of his production that made his reputation but is sometimes denigrated as superficial and toadying.Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023
Verb
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In babies and toddlers, the first signs, such as drooling and scratching, may appear mild.Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2025
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Public health officials are urging residents who may have fed their pets Monarch raw products or other raw meat or dairy products, and who may have noticed their pet acting peculiar — lethargic, loss of motor control, drooling, etc. — to immediately contact their veterinarian.Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Garbarino enjoyed his time with the Southern river rats and mountain folk, and their refusal to truckle to authority delights him to this day.David Samuels, Town & Country, 18 Oct. 2013
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During the campaign, most of Trump’s fallen rivals blasted him in exceptional terms—before truckling to support him against Hillary Clinton.James Fallows, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2017
Verb
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More than 2,000 scripts were submitted — double the number of a typical NHK screenplay competition — whittled down to 42 interviewees and 10 who were put through to the final WDR.Max Goldbart, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2025
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There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Ebeling and Alvarez continued to shoot projects together and frequently sent each other mutually fawning messages.E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
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He’s appeared with Trump at rallies and hosted a fawning interview with him on X, his social media platform.CNN.com, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Kowtow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kowtow. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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