adj
servile
SUR-vyl
adj
1
Excessively willing to obey or please others; behaving like a slave.
"His servile flattery of the boss made his colleagues uncomfortable."
"She refused to be servile toward customers who treated her badly."
How to Use Servile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishActing overly obedient or eager to please, almost like a slave would.
Common mistake
It is always negative — describing servile behavior is a criticism, not a compliment.
Common pairings
servile flattery
servile obedience
Word Forms
more servile comparative, serviles plural, most servile superlative
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His _____ flattery of the boss made his colleagues uncomfortable.
Etymology
From Latin servilis, "of a slave," from servus ("slave").