1
as in imitative
using or marked by the use of something else as a basis or model
slavish imitations of the great masters will never make you a painter in your own right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in humble
showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness
the assistant's slavish agreement with his boss's every thought, no matter how half-baked
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of slavish
Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s Democratic opponents have expressed horror at his slavish flattery of Putin but have failed to articulate a coherent Russia strategy of their own.
—
Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2020
Feud and American Horror Story creator Murphy purchased the Brown House in 2022 and set about renovating it and decorating it in an eclectic style that wasn’t slavish to its mid-century roots.
—Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 May 2024
But California’s governor was utterly slavish in the role of dutiful party soldier, repeatedly extolling Biden’s performance with a rat-a-tat of statistics — a Newsom hallmark — on falling inflation, rising employment and other favorable barometers.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2023
After the script was poorly received by De Laurentiis, Herbert took one last stab at trying to pull it in a less lengthy/slavish direction.
—Max Evry, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for slavish
Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2020
Feud and American Horror Story creator Murphy purchased the Brown House in 2022 and set about renovating it and decorating it in an eclectic style that wasn’t slavish to its mid-century roots.
—Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 May 2024
But California’s governor was utterly slavish in the role of dutiful party soldier, repeatedly extolling Biden’s performance with a rat-a-tat of statistics — a Newsom hallmark — on falling inflation, rising employment and other favorable barometers.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 1 Dec. 2023
After the script was poorly received by De Laurentiis, Herbert took one last stab at trying to pull it in a less lengthy/slavish direction.
—Max Evry, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for slavish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slavish
Adjective
-
Explaining Traditions - Folk Behavior In Modern Culture By Simon J. Bronner This kind of imitative play—not just Cooties but also House or Cops and Robbers—helps children make sense of the world.—
Bruce Handy,
The Atlantic,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The social self is avoidance-based, conforming, imitative, predictable, planned, and hardworking.—
Ellen Choi,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Like a cat with nine lives, the building has undergone multiple renovations since its humble start as a savonnerie, or soap factory, in 1630.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2025
-
What began as a humble mom-and-pop grocer and butcher shop a century ago is now a well-greased sausage factory, selling its products to big-name distributors such as Shamrock Foods, US Foods and Sysco, which get them to major sporting venues such as Ball Arena and Coors Field.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
So Alex dons a uniform, buses tables and engages in servile labor for the first time in her life.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Trump’s servile devotion to Putin becomes the new norm overnight as Republicans cower in support of Trump’s new Putin policy.—
Bob Kustra,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
But there’s something abject about taking up such a fraught subject, wringing every ounce of suspense and dramatic potential out of it, and then backing away as though Tim’s arc is just another story of sad enlightenment.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Later, the abject widow is found huddled with her relatives in the pale curve of an empty swimming pool, a glowing charcoal imbaula nearby to keep them warm.—
Namwali Serpell,
The New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Sure, there’s a reasonable and informed argument to be made that its big-budget excess, rampant commercialism, and formulaic checkbox-checking exemplify everything wrong with the AAA gaming industry right now.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Throughout this stretch, the Red Sox have almost become formulaic.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slavish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slavish. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share